# Sign Regulations in Skokie, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Skokie, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/skokie
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/IL/Skokie/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH82SI)

## At a glance

Skokie, Illinois regulates 21 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Residential Development Sign (Wall)s in the Residential Districts zoning district are capped at 10 ft (wall sign) tall and 6 sq ft per face; aggregate not to exceed 12 sq ft, with a Not closer than ½ minimum required zone setback or within 15 ft of vehicle access setback (Sec. Sec. 82-26(c)(1)). Most commercial signs in Skokie require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts | 12 | 10 ft (wall sign) | 35 sq ft; 50 sq ft if changeable copy included | — |
| NX Neighborhood Mixed-Use District, TX Transit Mixed-Use District, CX Core Mixed-Use District, B1 Service Commercial District, Sites < 1 Acre in B2 Commercial District, Sites < 1 Acre in B3 Business District | 6 | 18 ft or to top of lowest level of any roof/facade line, whichever is less | 50% of face to which attached or 100 sq ft, whichever is less | — |
| Sites > 1 Acre in B2 Commercial District, Sites > 1 Acre in B3 Business District, B4 Regional Shopping District, B6 Downtown Science and Technology District, H1 Hospital District, M1 Office Assembly Industry District, M2 Light Industry District, M3 Industry District, OR Office Research District | 2 | 18 ft or to top of lowest roof/facade line (lesser); restaurant sign max 15 ft | 100 sq ft/face or 2 sq ft/face per linear ft bldg frontage (lesser); max 150 sq ft/face with setback; >2 acres: max 200 sq ft/face | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | 25 sq ft or 25% of any window pane/surface | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential Property) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On the property; 1 per street frontage. | — | Sec. 82-7(11), Sec. 82-26(b)(1) |
| Garage Sale Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 2 per sale (1 per street frontage) | Premises containing sale; 1 per street frontage | — | Sec. 82-7(6); Sec. 82-26(b)(3) |
| Window Sign (Residential) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per residential unit | In a window per residential unit | — | Sec. 82-26(b)(5) |
| Ground Sign (Temporary, Residential) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | Per property | — | Sec. 82-26(b)(6) |
| Residential Development Sign (Wall) | 10 ft (wall sign) | 6 sq ft per face; aggregate not to exceed 12 sq ft | — | Not closer than ½ minimum required zone setback or within 15 ft of vehicle access | 1 per abutting street frontage | 1 per abutting street frontage | — | Sec. 82-26(c)(1) |
| Residential Development Sign (Ground) | 4 ft (ground sign) | 6 sq ft per face; aggregate not to exceed 12 sq ft | — | Not closer than ½ minimum required zone setback or within 15 ft of vehicle access | 1 per abutting street frontage | 1 per abutting street frontage | — | Sec. 82-26(c)(1) |
| Eleemosynary Use Sign (Ground) | 4 ft | 35 sq ft; 50 sq ft if changeable copy included | — | Not closer than minimum required zone setback or within 15 ft of vehicle access | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage | — | Sec. 82-26(c)(4) |
| Eleemosynary Use Sign (Wall) | 10 ft | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage | — | Sec. 82-26(c)(4) |

### NX Neighborhood Mixed-Use District, TX Transit Mixed-Use District, CX Core Mixed-Use District, B1 Service Commercial District, Sites < 1 Acre in B2 Commercial District, Sites < 1 Acre in B3 Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 1/3 of signable area | 80% of width of occupant's space; minimum 2 feet from each side; logo/letter: max 36 inches tall (24 inches tall for use <10,000 sq ft in CX); not above sills of any second-story window. | — | 1 per signable area | Within signable area only; see formula for signable area. Not above sills of second-story windows. | — | Sec. 82-27(c) |
| Ground Sign | 18 ft or to top of lowest level of any roof/facade line, whichever is less | 35 sq ft per face, 70 sq ft per sign; 50 sq ft per face (100 sq ft total) if multiple occupants or changeable copy | — | No closer horizontally to interior/rear lot line or adjacent ground sign than sign height. | 1 per site | 1 per site, not encroaching on public ways, not nearer horizontally to lot/rear/adjacent ground sign than sign height. | — | Sec. 82-27(d) |
| Blade Sign | — | 10 sq ft | Project max 36 inches from wall | — | 1 per signable area (if no awning or wall sign) | Within signable area, at least 2 feet from each tenant's lease line, not above facade top or above sill of any second story window, min clearance from ground 8 ft. | — | Sec. 82-27(e) |
| Awning / Canopy / Marquee Sign | — | 50% of face to which attached or 100 sq ft, whichever is less | — | — | 1 per entrance/display window per street frontage | 1 facing any street, mall, parking lot, or public access area with entrance/display window. | — | Sec. 82-22, 82-27 |
| Permanent Window Sign | — | 25% of individual window glass surface inside the frame | — | — | Per window pane | Window | — | Sec. 82-12(6), 82-23, 82-27 |
| A-frame Sign | 4 ft | 6 sq ft per side | — | Must be on building side of sidewalk, maintain 5 ft sidewalk clearance | 1 per business | CX: Within 10 ft of center of primary entrance, not in front of door or adjacent business, must be on building side of sidewalk. | — | Sec. 82-16(b) |

### Sites > 1 Acre in B2 Commercial District, Sites > 1 Acre in B3 Business District, B4 Regional Shopping District, B6 Downtown Science and Technology District, H1 Hospital District, M1 Office Assembly Industry District, M2 Light Industry District, M3 Industry District, OR Office Research District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 20% of wall or 200 sq ft, whichever is less; B4 major occupant on >80 acres: 10% of wall. | — | — | Varies by district and frontage; see additional requirements | On outermost wall of principal building; B4: not facing street frontage with residentially zoned property unless only frontage. | — | Sec. 82-28(b) |
| Ground Sign | 18 ft or to top of lowest roof/facade line (lesser); restaurant sign max 15 ft | 100 sq ft/face or 2 sq ft/face per linear ft bldg frontage (lesser); max 150 sq ft/face with setback; >2 acres: max 200 sq ft/face | — | Refer to formula for area increase by setback. Not allowed in 15 ft sight triangle if >30 in height. | 1 per site with possible additional signs if requirements met. | May be located in any required yard (subject to zoning); not within 15 ft sight triangle at vehicular access or public thoroughfare if over 30 in | — | Sec. 82-28(c) |

## Prohibited signs in Skokie

- It is unlawful to erect, alter, relocate or change the message or graphic display of any sign without first obtaining a permit from the Village Manager or designee, except where exempted.
- All signs on the public right-of-way are prohibited except as specifically provided in the chapter.
- No sign shall be installed or maintained so as to obstruct any fire escape or means of ingress or egress.
- No sign shall interfere with any opening required for ventilation.
- No sign shall interfere with any existing warning or instructional sign.
- No sign shall interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
- No sign shall interfere with or be attached to a standpipe used for fire suppression purposes.
- Any sign which is installed or maintained within 5 feet of a public right-of-way shall have no nails, tacks, wires or other projections, except illuminating devices, which may extend in front of the sign.
- No sign shall display any obscene, indecent or immoral matter.
- It is unlawful to install within the Village, except the CX Core Mixed-Use district, any freestanding sign which is not attached to the ground or to an existing structure as provided in the chapter.
- No sign shall be installed or maintained which purports to be an imitation of or resembles an official traffic control device, railroad sign or signal, which attempts to direct the movement of traffic, or which obstructs the view of any official traffic control device or any railroad sign or signal, without prior approval from the appropriate governmental agency.
- No vacant lot shall have permanent signage.
- No temporary or sale signs made of paper or cardboard shall be affixed to any exterior window surface, wall or other exterior surface of the structure.
- All signs must be maintained in a clean and inoffensive manner.
- No sign shall advertise an unlawful housing practice pursuant to federal, state, or local laws or regulations.
- Prohibited sign types: signs painted directly on a building surface; roof signs except as permitted; projecting signs; inflated or air-supported signs; signs painted or attached directly to a vehicle for advertising purposes when the vehicle is used primarily for advertising and not transportation; and flashing signs.
- EMCs (Electronic Message Centers) cannot display flashing, chasing, or animated lights, or animated pictorial graphics.
- All signs must comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

## Signs exempt from permit in Skokie

- Address/name signs not exceeding 1 square foot in area identifying the occupant or presence of permitted home occupation.
- Auxiliary signs in store windows regarding hours of operation, accepted charge cards, warnings, or similar information.
- Business nameplates (non-illuminated) not exceeding 1 square foot denoting the business name of a legally conducted occupation on the premises (1 nameplate per proprietor).
- Construction signs (one per street frontage, not exceeding 32 square feet), installed upon application of a building permit and removed upon issuance of a certificate of completion.
- Flags and pennants at educational, governmental, or eleemosynary institutions, not greater than 50 square feet; up to 4 per site, with pole height limited by zoning district; exception for Northshore Sculpture Park.
- Garage sale signs advertising garage, yard, or house sales on the day(s) of the sale, not exceeding 4 square feet; max 2 per sale with 1 per street frontage.
- Government signs including traffic, regulatory, municipal, legal notices, railroad crossing, danger, and approved temporary emergency or noncommercial signs.
- Interior signs primarily oriented to persons within the premises.
- Monument signs (plaques, tablets, cornerstones, or lettering inlaid into building materials), not exceeding 4 square feet, denoting name and date of structure.
- Promotions/special displays: up to 4 American flags (each not exceeding 24 square feet) allowed without permit; banners permitted on a temporary basis per set conditions (permit required for banner).
- Real estate signs as specified, subject to size and duration limitations depending on property use (residential, business, industrial).
- Direction signs (to direct traffic or parking), limited to 4 square feet, max one per driveway opening unless otherwise required or as increased via planned development/site plan approval.
- Temporary window signs covering no more than 25% of an individual window pane surface.
- Restaurant informational signs as defined.
- The above-exempt signs remain subject to Section 82-29(c) regarding unsafe/dangerous conditions.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Permit is required to erect, alter, relocate or change the message or graphic display of any sign unless the sign is specifically exempt under Section 82-7.
- A certificate of appropriateness from the Appearance Commission is required prior to issuance of a sign permit, except for sign face changes to existing signs (those require approval by the Village Manager or designee).
- All sign types (except certain exemptions and temporary banners) require application and approval; sign applications must be submitted to the Village with owner consent.
- For installation and construction of signs using electrical wiring, compliance and plan review by the Village Manager or designee is required.
- Plans and specifications especially for electrical signs must be submitted for review.
- Pre-installation and post-installation inspections are required for signs needing permits.
- A sign plan or sign package (sometimes referred to as 'sign criteria') may be required as part of planned development or site plan approval, especially for ground signs or large/multi-tenant developments, and must be approved by the Appearance Commission and possibly others.
- Variances/relief from code are considered by the Plan Commission or Zoning Board of Appeals per Sections 118-6 and 118-7, but prohibited sign types cannot be granted a variance.
- Signs in the CX Core Mixed-Use district undergoing historically correct renovations require Appearance Commission and Board of Trustees review and approval of all signage, support structures, and illumination.
- Multiple or package approvals (e.g., for all ground signs on a site or as part of tenant group) may be required, reviewed and approved as a unified plan.
- Ground signs or special sign packages for industrial and large commercial sites must be approved as a package, and may require Appearance Commission/final approval.
- Requests for a separate restaurant ground sign within a hotel site are subject to a designated review procedure, which includes approval of the sign package.

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

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