# Sign Regulations in River Forest, Illinois

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

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

## At a glance

River Forest, Illinois regulates 13 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Monument Signs in the C1 zoning district are capped at 10 ft tall and 80 sq ft per sign face, with a 3 ft from right-of-way, 6 ft from other lot lines; must be outside sight triangles setback (Sec. 4-5-8(A)(3), (C)(2)(b), (D)(3), (E)(2), (F)(3)). Most commercial signs in River Forest require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 6 ft | 30% of window area in which exhibited | — |
| C1 | 5 | 30 ft; first floor only on multi-story buildings | 80 sq ft per sign face | — |
| C2, PRI | 5 | 30 ft; first floor only on multi-story buildings | 80 sq ft per sign face | — |
| C3 | 5 | 30 ft; first floor only on multi-story buildings | 60 sq ft per sign face; no more than 5% of wall to which affixed (individual tenant in multi-tenant bldg.) | — |
| ORIC | 3 | 30 ft | 100 sq ft per sign face; total 200 sq ft | — |

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

### C1

| 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 above grade | 60 sq ft per sign face; no more than 5% of wall to which affixed (individual tenant in multi-tenant bldg.) | — | — | One per zoning lot frontage/single tenant; or one per ground floor business tenant | Affixed to awning or canopy on building | — | 4-5-8(A)(2), (C)(2)(a), (D)(2), (F)(2) |
| Monument Sign | 10 ft | 80 sq ft per sign face | — | 3 ft from right-of-way, 6 ft from other lot lines; must be outside sight triangles | One per lot | Freestanding on lot | — | 4-5-8(A)(3), (C)(2)(b), (D)(3), (E)(2), (F)(3) |
| Pylon Sign | 20 ft (or height of primary structure/service area canopy for gas stations, whichever is less) | 80 sq ft per sign face | — | 3 ft from right-of-way, 6 ft from all other lot lines; outside sight triangles | One per lot (in lieu of monument sign) | Freestanding on lot | — | 4-5-8(A)(4), (C)(2)(c), (D)(4), (E)(3), (F)(4) |
| Wall Sign | 30 ft; first floor only on multi-story buildings | 80 sq ft per sign or not more than 5% of wall to which affixed, whichever is less | — | — | One per frontage for single ground floor tenant or one per ground floor tenant | On wall of building; first floor only on multi-story buildings | — | 4-5-8(A)(6), (C)(2)(d), (D)(5), (F)(5) |
| Window Sign (Permanent) | — | 25% of any individual window frame (in aggregate with temporary window signs) | — | — | — | Within window | — | 4-5-8(A)(7), (C)(2)(e), (F)(6) |

### C2, PRI

| 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 above grade | 60 sq ft per sign face; no more than 5% of wall to which affixed (individual tenant in multi-tenant bldg.) | — | — | One per zoning lot frontage/single tenant; or one per ground floor business tenant | Affixed to awning or canopy on building | — | 4-5-9(A)(2), (C)(2)(a), (D)(2), (F)(2) |
| Monument Sign | 10 ft | 80 sq ft per sign face | — | 3 ft from right-of-way, 5 ft from all other lot lines; outside sight triangles | One per lot | Freestanding on lot | — | 4-5-9(A)(3), (C)(2)(b), (D)(3), (E)(2), (F)(3) |
| Wall Sign | 30 ft; first floor only on multi-story buildings | 60 sq ft per sign or not more than 5% of wall to which affixed, whichever is less | — | — | One per frontage for single ground floor tenant or one per ground floor tenant | On wall of building; first floor only on multi-story buildings | — | 4-5-9(A)(5), (C)(2)(c), (D)(4), (F)(4) |
| Window Sign (Permanent) | — | 25% of any individual window frame (in aggregate with temporary window signs) | — | — | — | Within window | — | 4-5-9(A)(6), (C)(2)(d), (F)(5) |
| Sandwich Board Sign (PRI) | 3.5 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Placed so as to preserve a min. 3 ft sidewalk width and not block ingress/egress. In PRI: only for special event wayfinding, to provide for the safe and efficient movement of people and vehicles. | — | 4-5-6(D) |

### C3

| 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 above grade | 60 sq ft per sign face; no more than 5% of wall to which affixed (individual tenant in multi-tenant bldg.) | — | — | One per zoning lot frontage/single tenant; or one per ground floor business tenant | Affixed to awning or canopy on building | — | 4-5-10(A)(2), (C)(2)(a), (D)(2), (F)(2) |
| Projecting Sign | 12 ft maximum, may not extend above roofline; minimum 8 ft clearance to grade | 4.5 sq ft per sign face | — | — | One per lot frontage or one per tenant | On building, projects perpendicular to facade | — | 4-5-10(A)(3), (C)(2)(b), (D)(3), (E)(2), (F)(3) |
| Wall Sign | 30 ft; first floor only on multi-story buildings | 60 sq ft per sign or not more than 5% of wall to which affixed, whichever is less | — | — | One per frontage for single ground floor tenant or one per ground floor tenant | On wall of building; first floor only on multi-story buildings | — | 4-5-10(A)(5), (C)(2)(c), (D)(4), (F)(4) |
| Window Sign (Permanent) | — | 25% of any individual window frame (in aggregate with temporary window signs) | — | — | — | Within window | — | 4-5-10(A)(6), (C)(2)(d), (F)(5) |
| Sandwich Board Sign (C3) | 3.5 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Within 1 ft of wall of building/unit, no less than 3 ft and no more than 6 ft from building entrance, with at least 3 ft of sidewalk width preserved, not blocking ingress or egress. | — | 4-5-6(D) |

## Prohibited signs in River Forest

- Any sign not expressly permitted by these regulations is prohibited.
- No sign 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 may be maintained at any location where, by reason of its position, size, shape, content, color or illumination, it may obstruct or be confused with traffic control devices.
- No sign other than a supporting pole or brace (no greater than eighteen inches in width or diameter) shall be located lower than eight feet from grade within any sight triangle.
- 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 so as to create a nuisance or a threat to public safety and welfare.
- Erecting or maintaining a sign in a manner inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter is unlawful and declared a nuisance.
- No flashing, blinking, or intermittent lights shall be permitted on any sign.
- Box signs are prohibited.
- Electronic reader boards are prohibited (except as approved as part of a planned development).
- Moving or animated signs are prohibited.
- Off-premises signs are prohibited (except as approved as part of a planned development).
- Outline lighting is 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.
- Vehicle/trailer signs are prohibited.
- Any sign on a tree, utility pole or light pole, whether on public or private property, is prohibited (except municipal/government banners appropriately approved and mounted).
- Any sign on public property is prohibited, except governmental signs and signs in the PRI district authorized in this chapter.
- Any sign painted directly on a wall, roof or fence is prohibited.
- Any ground sign (or portion of a sign) existing at a height of more than fifteen feet above the grade of an adjacent residential district is prohibited.
- Construction signs in residential neighborhoods are prohibited other than the sign or permit placard required by the village.

## Signs exempt from permit in River Forest

- Governmental signs are permitted without a sign permit, subject to size limitations imposed by the relevant law, ordinance, or regulation.
- On-site traffic directional signs (limited to wall or freestanding signs of not more than six square feet in area and, if freestanding, not more than four feet in height, and illuminated only as necessary) are permitted without a sign permit.
- Post signs (freestanding, mounted in the ground with one or no more than two poles or stakes, max six square feet in area and six feet in height; illumination prohibited; one per property for up to 180 days/year, with possible extension) are permitted without a sign permit.
- Sandwich board signs (permitted in C3 and PRI Districts only, max six square feet and three and one half feet in height; specific location and time limits apply) are permitted without a sign permit.
- Yard signs (freestanding, not more than six square feet and three feet in height; illumination prohibited; max four displayed concurrently) are permitted without a sign permit.
- Temporary window signs (aggregate area not to exceed thirty percent of the window area, cannot block required window area; illumination prohibited) are permitted without a sign permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required for any sign unless expressly permitted without a permit according to Section 4-5-6.
- Every sign permit application must be accompanied by plans, specifications, scale drawings, photos of the property, calculations of existing sign area, evidence of a business license, and attestation of compliance.
- Evidence of the structural integrity and safety of the sign design and installation (by licensed architect, engineer, or sign manufacturer/installer) is required for each sign permit application.
- A separate temporary sign permit application is required for each temporary sign (Section 4-5-12).
- Variations from the sign regulations may require approval from the Zoning Administrator (minor), the Zoning Board of Appeals (major), or may be included in a planned development approval.
- Planned developments may include relief from any of the requirements of the sign ordinance.
- Temporary construction fence wrap signs require approval by the Zoning Administrator and may have specific conditions imposed.
- For multi-tenant lots, the lot owner is responsible for sign allocation among users.

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

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