# Sign Regulations in Schaumburg, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Schaumburg, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/schaumburg
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/IL/Schaumburg/codes/Policy_Manual?nodeId=SCPOMA_DIV5POSTPLCODE_POLICY_STATEMENT_5.48_TITLESTSICOOFDE)

## At a glance

Schaumburg, Illinois regulates 32 sign types across 12 zoning districts. Ground Signs in the Olde Schaumburg Centre District (OSC) zoning district are capped at 7 ft tall and 32 sq ft per face; 64 sq ft aggregate, with a Min 50' from other property’s ground sign; not within 15' of access setback (Sec. §155.214(B)(3)). Most commercial signs in Schaumburg require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (12 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | Instructional (wall): 10 ft; Instructional (ground): 7 ft; Directional: 5 ft; Regulatory Notices: No extra restriction | Varies; example: Awning/canopy - 4 sq ft; Public Info - 4 sq ft; Noncommercial temp signs single-family - 16 sq ft; non-single-family - 16 sq ft; Directional - 4 sq ft; Instructional - 9 sq ft; Plaques/nameplates - 8 sq ft; Hours of Operation - 2 sq ft per face/4 sq ft aggregate; Regulatory Notices (residential) - 6 sq ft/face, 12 sq ft aggregate, 2 per lot; Regulatory Notices (nonresidential) - 6 sq ft/face, 12 sq ft aggregate, 4 per lot; Clearance Bar - 4 sq ft | — |
| Residential Areas, Single-Family Residential Areas, Multiple-Family Residential Areas | 3 | Wall: 15 ft; Ground: 7 ft | 50 sq ft per face, 100 sq ft aggregate | — |
| Nonresidential Areas, Commercial Uses | 6 | 15 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| Shopping Centers | 4 | 49,999 sq ft: 15 ft; 50,000–99,999: 20 ft; 100,000+: 25 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| Shopping Centers Over 500,000 Square Feet | 1 | See plan | See plan | — |
| Automobile Dealerships | 5 | 15 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| Gas Stations | 5 | 15 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| Office, Industrial and Institutional Uses | 3 | 15 ft | 200 sq ft or as formula | — |
| Office or Industrial Development Park | 1 | — | — | — |
| Properties with direct frontage on Interstate 90, Interstate 290/Route 53, and Interstate 390 | 3 | 20 ft | 450 sq ft per face, 900 sq ft aggregate | — |
| Properties with direct frontage on the Milwaukee District/West Metra Line | 1 | Not above parapet | 200/300/400 sq ft as above | — |
| Olde Schaumburg Centre District (OSC) | 7 | Not above parapet; must clear sidewalk by 7 ft 6 in | 48 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 12 zones)

### Nonresidential Areas, Commercial Uses

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Cannot project above parapet | 200 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building (+1 each for multi-street frontage; tenants: 1 each on proportionate wall share) | Outermost wall, up to 16" projection | — | §155.95(A), §155.110(A) |
| Ground Sign | 15 ft | 100 sq ft per face, 200 sq ft aggregate | — | — | 1 per building | Any required yard; not over lot line. | — | §155.95(B) |
| Menu Board Sign | 7 ft | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 per aisle (double aisles: 2) | Drive-through lane | — | §155.95(B) |
| Pre-Menu Board Sign | 7 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per aisle | Drive-through lane | — | §155.95(B) |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | Top of awning/canopy | 200 sq ft max | — | — | 1 per building | On awning/canopy | — | §155.95(C) |
| Temporary Commercial Sign (Nonresidential/Commercial) | 15 ft (under construction); 7 ft (otherwise) | 32 sq ft/face, 64 sq ft aggregate; Under construction: 64 sq ft/face, 128 sq ft aggregate | — | — | 1 per public street frontage | On-premises, not within 15' of vehicular access to public roadway. | — | §155.61(C), §155.62(C) |

### Automobile Dealerships

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Not above parapet | 200 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building (+1 for each additional street abutted) | On outermost wall, up to 16" projection | — | §155.97(A) |
| Primary Ground Sign | 15 ft | 100 sq ft per face, 200 sq ft aggregate | — | — | 1 | Any required yard, not over lot line | — | §155.97(B) |
| Secondary Ground Sign | 15 ft | 80 sq ft per face, 160 sq ft aggregate | — | — | 2 | Any required yard, not over lot line | — | §155.97(B) |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | Top of awning/canopy | 200 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | Awning/canopy, subject to director’s approval | — | §155.97(C) |
| Service Bay Identification Sign | Not above parapet | 10 sq ft | — | — | 1 per bay | On outermost wall adjacent to service bay, up to 16" projection | — | §155.97(D) |

### Olde Schaumburg Centre District (OSC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign - Primary | Not above parapet | 48 sq ft | — | — | 1 per principal tenant (+1 per street). | Outermost wall, up to 16" projection. | — | §155.214(B)(1), §155.204–209, §155.210 |
| Wall Sign - Secondary (rear parking/main entrance) | Not above parapet | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per qualifying face (if applicable) | As above, at rear/main access | — | §155.214(B)(1)(b)2 |
| Projecting/Hanging Sign - Primary | Not above parapet; must clear sidewalk by 7 ft 6 in | 16 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per tenant per principal face | Outermost wall, not over 4 ft from wall; must not extend into public ROW. | — | §155.214(B)(2) |
| Projecting/Hanging Sign - Secondary (rear entrance or parking) | Not above parapet; must clear sidewalk by 7'6" | 8 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per situation | Outermost wall; same as above | — | §155.214(B)(2) |
| Ground Sign | 7 ft | 32 sq ft per face; 64 sq ft aggregate | — | Min 50' from other property’s ground sign; not within 15' of access | 1 | Any required yard, not over lot line or within 15’ of vehicular access; placed at least 50 ft from adjacent property ground signs. | — | §155.214(B)(3) |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | Top of awning/canopy | — | — | — | 1 | Awning/canopy; subject to director’s/designee’s review | — | §155.214(B)(4) |
| A-Frame (Sandwich Board) Sign | 3 ft | 9 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | In front of business entrance, not facing roadway. 3 ft sidewalk clearance required. Not to be worn by person. | — | §155.212(A) |

## Prohibited signs in Schaumburg

- A-frame, sandwich board, sidewalk or curb signs are prohibited.
- Attraction board signs using individual, interchangeable letters are prohibited, except when necessary to avoid consumer confusion/public safety or for noncommercial uses.
- Pennants and streamers are prohibited as temporary signs.
- Billboards and other off-premises signs are prohibited. (With exception for village-installed signs for public purposes.)
- Electronic message board and other moving/flashing signs are prohibited except as specifically allowed; see detailed exceptions for public safety, governmental, or public service object purposes.
- Inflatable signs or devices are prohibited except where they cannot be lawfully prohibited.
- Portable signs not permanently affixed are prohibited.
- Projecting signs that extend more than sixteen inches beyond the wall are prohibited.
- Roof signs (signs projecting above parapet or ridgeline) are prohibited.
- Temporary or permanent signs on or in parked vehicles/trailers which are visible from the public right-of-way are prohibited except where the sign is incidental to the primary use of the vehicle.
- Signs affixed to trees or vegetation are prohibited.
- Signs painted on exterior walls, fascia, parapet, chimney, or fences are prohibited.
- Signs that imitate, interfere with, obstruct, or can be confused with traffic control signs/devices are prohibited.
- Window signs covering more than 50% of a window, or interior displays within 12 inches of a window, are prohibited as either temporary or permanent signs. Illuminated window signs within 12 inches of a window may not cover more than 25%.
- Window trimming/lighting such as rope, flexible, neon or similar lighting on windows is prohibited.
- Signs advertising video gaming are limited to one window sign not exceeding four square feet.
- Unshielded lighting for illumination (except limited uses e.g., December, carnivals, or special temporary exceptions) is prohibited.
- Signs shall not obstruct fire escapes, required exits, windows, or doors intended as means of ingress/egress.
- Signs shall not interfere with required openings for ventilation.
- Signs must be at least eight feet from any power line or communication line.
- Signs and supports may not interfere with or obstruct surface/underground utilities, or drainage.
- No sign shall interfere with any existing warning or instructional sign.
- No sign may be placed within a 'sight triangle' at intersections (two sides, 25 feet each along curb or shoulder).

## Signs exempt from permit in Schaumburg

- Awning and canopy signs not exceeding 4 square feet, indicating only business name or brief description (no advertising material).
- Public information—noncommercial permanent signs required or authorized by law or public health/safety, not exceeding 4 square feet.
- Temporary noncommercial signs, within area and duration limits (e.g., one per frontage, total 16 sq ft in most cases; see section for details).
- Governmental signs for traffic control, regulatory, street, warning, railroad, public service indicating danger, and other official signs.
- Signs displaying hours of operation, not exceeding two sq ft per face or four sq ft aggregate.
- Interior signs located completely within a building, stadium, enclosed lobby, court, or theater entrance.
- Memorial signs, plaques, tablets, gravemarkers, statuary, or remembrances of noncommercial events or persons.
- Parking/traffic/other regulatory control signs (directional signs, instructional signs, regulatory notice signs, within area/height limits specified).
- Plaques, nameplates, or memorial signs on building exteriors, not exceeding eight square feet.
- Public notices posted by officials/employees performing official duties.
- Public signs required or authorized by law/statute/ordinance, of any type, number, area, height, location or illumination as required.
- Signs on vehicles or trailers where the sign is incidental to the primary use of the vehicle/trailer.
- Warning signs with no advertising, warning of danger, to be removed after three days of danger subsiding; any type, area, etc., as needed to warn the public.
- Signage on village-owned property (water tanks, towers, banners/streetlight poles or fixtures, or other village property, where approved/installed by village for public purposes).
- Clearance bar signs not exceeding 4 sq ft, alerting drivers to height restrictions (no business or product signage).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Any shopping center exceeding 500,000 square feet may choose to proceed with a signage plan subject to village approval; such plans require submission of an application, review by director of community development, Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) recommendation, and Village Board approval.
- Applications for sign plans (for such centers) must include full schematic plans, deviations from code, site plans, landscape plans, and all data necessary for review.
- For developments with established sign programs (50%+ of tenants or as a condition of development plan), tenants are required to comply with the sign program for size, location, style, color, and material.
- For multi-tenant developments/buildings fronting Interstates, sign programs are required as condition of plan approval.
- Any modification to an approved signage plan (for centers >500,000 sq ft) generally requires reapplication and review; minor changes (not increasing size, illumination, or height) may be approved administratively.
- Requests for variations from sign code (for exceptions) must be reviewed and recommended by the Zoning Board of Appeals and approved by the Village Board, after required notice and public hearing.
- Administrative exceptions (e.g., relocation of wall sign, additional wall sign in lieu of ground sign, extension for grand opening sign) may be approved by the village manager or designee; appeals are handled by the zoning board.
- In the Olde Schaumburg Centre District, sign review is required for most new, altered, or relocated signs (exceptions: exempt signs, temporary signs, window signs, and signs that meet standards set forth in the code).
- For the Olde Schaumburg Centre, applications for sign/varying review are filed with the Community Development Department and require Plan Commission or Zoning Board review and Village Board approval.
- Variation processes require findings of hardship, non-self-imposed condition, and evidence the variation will not harm community objectives or nearby property.
- No person may erect, alter, or relocate most signs without obtaining a permit; exempt signs and routine maintenance are excluded.

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

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