# Sign Regulations in Shorewood, Illinois

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

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

## At a glance

Shorewood, Illinois regulates 30 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Temporary Signs (Excluding Window Signs)s in the Residential Districts (E-2 through R-5) zoning district are capped at 3 ft (freestanding) tall and 4 sq ft, with a 10 ft setback (Sec. 10-10 Table 1, 10-10-6 D.2). Most commercial signs in Shorewood require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts (E-2 through R-5) | 7 | 6 ft | 4 sq ft | — |
| Business Districts (B-1 through OCI) | 14 | 45 ft | 120 sq ft | — |
| Industrial Districts (ORI - I-3) | 6 | 10 ft | 150 sq ft | — |
| Sign Zone A | 1 | 45 ft | 120 sq ft | — |
| All subdivisions in all zoning districts | 5 | 14 ft | 120 sq ft | — |
| Industrial park | 1 | 20 ft | 80 sq ft | — |
| Churches, schools and other public/quasi-public institutions | 2 | 10 ft | 48 sq ft per face | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | 24 in x 36 in | — |
| Sign Zone B | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### Residential Districts (E-2 through R-5)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign, Primary | — | — | — | — | None | — | — | 10-10 Table 1 |
| Wall Sign, Secondary | — | — | — | — | None | — | — | 10-10 Table 1 |
| Freestanding Sign | — | — | — | — | None | — | — | 10-10 Table 1 |
| Shingle Sign (Pole-Mounted) | 6 ft | 2 sq ft | — | — | One (1) | — | — | 10-10 Table 1 |
| Temporary Signs (Excluding Window Signs) | 3 ft (freestanding) | 4 sq ft | — | 10 ft | Two (2) | — | — | 10-10 Table 1, 10-10-6 D.2 |
| Temporary Signs, Wall-Mounted | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | As above | — | — | 10-10 Table 1, 10-10-6 D.2 |
| Real Estate Sign | 4.5 ft | 4 sq ft | — | 5 ft | One (1) per street frontage | Private property only | — | 10-10 Table 1, 10-10-6 E.1-2 |

### Business Districts (B-1 through OCI)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Single Tenant, street frontage <500 ft) | 6 ft | 60 sq ft | — | 10 ft | One (1) | Must be on property, setback from lot line | — | 10-10 Table 1, 10-10-6 C.2 |
| Freestanding Sign (Single Tenant, street frontage ≥500 ft) | 6 ft | 60 sq ft | — | 10 ft | Two (2) | See above | — | 10-10 Table 1 |
| Freestanding Sign (Multi-Tenant) | 20 ft | 100 sq ft (no more than 50% for any tenant) | — | 10 ft | One (1) when frontage <500 ft, two (2) when ≥500 ft | On property | — | 10-10 Table 1, 10-10-6 C.2 |
| Highway Identification Sign (Sign Zone A) | 45 ft | 120 sq ft | — | 10 ft | One (1) | Sign Zone A only, in lieu of other freestanding sign | — | 10-10 Table 1, 10-10-5, 10-10-6 C.5 |
| Shingle Sign (Building-Mounted) | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | One (1) | Suspended from overhang, walkway, porch, or attached to fascia | — | 10-10 Table 1, 10-10-6 C.3 |
| Shingle Sign (Pole-Mounted) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | One (1) | Suspended from pole arm | — | 10-10 Table 1, 10-10-6 C.3 |
| Temporary Signs, Freestanding | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | One (1) per frontage | On property | — | 10-10 Table 1, 10-10-6 D.2 |
| Real Estate Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft | One (1) per property per street frontage | Private property only, not public ROW | — | 10-10 Table 1, 10-10-6 E.1-2 |

### All subdivisions in all zoning districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Subdivision Identification Sign (Freestanding Entry Monument) | 6 ft | Message area: 20 sq ft; Structure: max 100 sq ft (face fronting public street) | — | — | — | Easement providing for sign maintenance/landscaping; not in ROW; ≥20 feet from any driveway; 5-foot minimum around base for landscaping | — | 10-10-7 B |
| Model Home Sign | 9 ft | 48 sq ft (total per model home site) | — | — | Max 3 per site | On model home sites only | — | 10-10-7 A |
| On-Site Directional (Model Home/Subdivision) | 9 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per turning corner | — | — | 10-10-7 C |
| On-Site Subdivision Advertisement | 12 ft | 96 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | 1 sign per public street frontage of subdivision | — | 10-10-7 D |
| Off-Site Subdivision Advertisement | 14 ft | 120 sq ft | — | 50 ft from edge of pavement | 2 | No more than 2 signs within village corporate limits; 50-ft setback from pavement/placement as directed by zoning officer | — | 10-10-7 E |

## Prohibited signs in Shorewood

- No sign may be erected or maintained that is not included under the types of signs permitted in the district or the general regulations.
- No sign may advertise or publicize an activity not conducted on the premises upon which such sign is maintained, except as otherwise permitted.
- Projecting signs are not permitted.
- Flashing signs are not permitted.
- Animated signs are not permitted.
- Pennants, streamers, and other attention-getting devices are not permitted.
- No sign may be attached to any tree, fence, or public utility pole other than warning signs issued by public utilities.
- Festoon lighting is not permitted, except when used to illuminate outdoor dining areas.
- No sign may use a flame as a source of light.
- Portable signs are not permitted, except as permitted via a temporary sign permit.
- No sign or sign structure may constitute a hazard to public health or safety.
- Billboards are prohibited.
- Vehicle signs are prohibited when used exclusively for advertising.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Obsolete signs are prohibited.
- No sign may draw attention to items or activities that are illegal under municipal, state, or federal laws or regulations.
- No freestanding sign, other than pole-mounted shingle sign or highway identification sign, may allow visibility through its area between the bottom of the message portion and the ground for the full width of the message portion.
- No wall sign may be designed to allow removal and replacement of the entire message area (except for changeable copy signs, directory signs, and approved raceway signs).
- Linear lighting intended to attract attention to a use is not permitted (architectural lighting integrated into building design without exposed bulbs is allowed).
- No sign may project into, over, or otherwise encroach upon a public right-of-way.
- No sign may be erected such that its hemisphere, described by a radius equal to the vertical height of the freestanding sign with the vertical centerline at the center, intersects with utility lines, electrical conductors, or service drops.
- No sign shall cover, wholly or partially, any wall opening nor project beyond the ends or top of the wall to which it is affixed.
- No sign may be erected so as to obstruct any fire escape, required exit, window or door opening intended as a means of egress.
- No sign may be erected that interferes with any opening required for ventilation.
- No sign may be erected which interferes with surface or underground utilities or natural/artificial drainage.
- No exposed guywires, chains, or similar pedestrian-threatening connections may serve as sign supports.
- No sign, signal, marking, or device may be placed on or in view of any highway purporting to imitate or resemble an official traffic-control or railroad sign/signal, or which hides from view/obstructs the effectiveness of official devices.
- No traffic sign or signal may bear any commercial advertising.
- No sign is permitted in any street, road, or highway right-of-way.
- No sign may be erected on village property or in public right-of-way, except as specifically permitted.
- Garage sale signs may not be erected on any public right-of-way or attached to public utility poles.
- Gang signs may not be displayed, demonstrated, or thrown in any public place.
- Lighted or illuminated signs advertising video gaming are not permitted when visible from outside the licensed premises.

## Signs exempt from permit in Shorewood

- Traffic or other municipal street graphics such as railroad crossing signs, legal notices, and temporary emergency signs authorized by the village board.
- Signs of public utility companies indicating danger, serving as a public safety aid, or showing the location of underground facilities or public telephones.
- Directional, informational, or public service signs (excluding public utilities) not exceeding five square feet per face, identifying entrances, exits, parking areas, restrooms, public telephones, walkways, etc.
- Signs consisting of letters and/or numbers identifying the street address, displayed on the building and not exceeding four square feet in area.
- Signs located in the interior of any building or within enclosed interior lobbies/courts, designed for patrons and not as window signs intended for exterior viewing.
- Seasonal decorations temporarily displayed in connection with local festivity approved by the village board or for a national holiday (not used for advertising, not more than 45 days on display).
- "No Trespassing" or similar regulatory signs not exceeding two square feet in area.
- A single United States flag and a single corporate or other flag, displayed on vertical flagpoles and within height/size limits; on federal and state holidays, no maximum number/size of flags representing political subdivisions.
- Memorial signs or tablets, building names/dates, and nameplate signs cut into masonry or inlaid as part of a building, or made of bronze/incombustible material not exceeding six square feet.
- Bulletin boards (not including message board signs) not over 32 square feet for public/charitable/religious institutions, located on the premises and not interfering with vision of motorists.
- Public signs and signs incidental thereto for identification, information, or direction, erected/authorized/required by governmental bodies, civic organizations, or authorized by law, statute, or ordinance.
- Informational signs such as "business hour" signs, "help wanted" signs, "open-closed" signs not exceeding one square foot in area and located within a street-level window.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A landscape plan is required for all ground mounted and freestanding signs at time of application and must be reviewed and approved by the zoning officer.
- An application for a subdivision identification/entry sign must include a landscape plan, a drawing of the sign, a site plan depicting the sign location, and be reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Commission before Village Board approval.
- Street (traffic) signage plans must be submitted by developers for approval (applies to public signage for new developments).
- All permanent signs generally require a permit and submission of plans, which may require various details (dimensions, renderings, lighting, etc.) as part of the permitting process.

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

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