# Sign Regulations in South Holland, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** South Holland, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/south-holland
- **Data last verified:** 2025-03-25
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/IL/South_Holland/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CO_CH3AD_ARTIISI)

## At a glance

South Holland, Illinois regulates 3 sign types across 2 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 24 feet tall and 500 square feet, with a Must be within legal side setback lines setback (Sec. Sec. 3-24(a)(1), Sec. 3-21(a)). Most commercial signs in South Holland require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (2 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 24 feet | 500 square feet | — |
| Local Business, General Business, Light Industrial, Institutional Development | 3 | 24 feet | 500 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 30% of the total gross surface area of the wall | — | — | One identification sign per business at street level | On the principal frontage or facade of the area occupied by the business | — | Sec. 3-24(a)(2), Sec. 3-21(a) |
| Freestanding Sign | 24 feet | 500 square feet | — | Must be within legal side setback lines | Maximum of two per premise | Within legal side setback lines, not obstructing traffic view | — | Sec. 3-24(a)(1), Sec. 3-21(a) |
| Ground Mounted Sign | 10 feet | 500 square feet | — | Must be within legal side setback lines | Maximum of two per premise | Within legal side setback lines, not obstructing traffic view | — | Sec. 3-24(a)(1), Sec. 3-21(a) |

### Local Business, General Business, Light Industrial, Institutional Development

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 30% of the total gross surface area of the wall | — | — | One identification sign per business at street level | On the principal frontage or facade of the area occupied by the business | — | Sec. 3-24(a)(2), Sec. 3-21(a) |
| Freestanding Sign | 24 feet | 500 square feet | — | Must be within legal side setback lines | Maximum of two per premise | Within legal side setback lines, not obstructing traffic view | — | Sec. 3-24(a)(1), Sec. 3-21(a) |
| Ground Mounted Sign | 10 feet | 500 square feet | — | Must be within legal side setback lines | Maximum of two per premise | Within legal side setback lines, not obstructing traffic view | — | Sec. 3-24(a)(1), Sec. 3-21(a) |

## Prohibited signs in South Holland

- Signs located in such a manner as to obstruct or otherwise interfere with an official traffic sign, signal or device, or obstruct or interfere with a driver's view of approaching, merging or intersecting traffic.
- It is unlawful for any person to construct any sign, signboard or billboard, a majority of the display area of which is within four (4) feet of any building, unless the sign, signboard or billboard is constructed of non-combustible materials.
- Signs encroaching upon or overhanging public right-of-way. No sign shall be attached to any tree, fence, stand pipes, gutter drains, fire escapes, utility pole, light standard, street tree or any other public facility located within the public right-of-way.
- It is unlawful to erect or maintain any sign, signboard or billboard in such a position as to obstruct any fire escape or any window or door leading to any fire escape or window, or to fasten a sign, signboard, or billboard to any fire escape.
- Signs which blink, flash or are animated by lighting in any fashion that would cause such signs to have the appearance of traffic safety signs and lights, or municipal vehicle warnings from a distance or use the words 'STOP,' 'LOOK,' 'DRIVE-IN,' 'DANGER' or any other word, phrase and/or symbol and/or character in a manner that interferes with, misleads, and/or confuses pedestrian and/or vehicular traffic.
- No sign or other advertising structure shall have lights and/or illuminations that flash, move, rotate, scintillate, blink, flicker, vary in intensity or color and/or use intermittent electrical pulsations.
- Portable signs except as allowed for temporary signs.
- Any sign attached to, or placed on, a vehicle or trailer parked on public or private property, except for signs meeting specific conditions.
- Vehicles and trailers are not used primarily as static displays, advertising a product or service, nor utilized as storage, shelter or distribution points for commercial products or services for the general public.
- Balloons, streamers, pennants, posters, ribbons, light bulbs, light bands, spinners, attention getting devices that move, blink, and/or flashing signs, inflatable advertising devices or pinwheels except those temporarily displayed as part of a special sale, promotion or community event.
- Obstruction to doors, windows or fire escapes. No sign or other advertising structure shall be erected and/or maintained in a manner to prevent ingress to or egress from any door, window and/or fire escape.
- Adult-oriented or obscene signs. No sign or other advertising structure shall display any manner in which the dominant theme of the material, taken as a whole, appeals to a prurient interest in sex, or is patently offensive because it affronts contemporary community standards relating to the description and/or representation of sexual matters, and is utterly without redeeming social value.
- No animated sign (electronic message center) may be erected which contains, includes or is illuminated by any flashing, intermittent or moving light, except those giving safety warnings and public service information such as time, weather, date and temperature.

## Signs exempt from permit in South Holland

- For sale and for rent signs for existing structures in areas zoned residential.
- Political signs are exempt from all regulations except for maintenance, appearance, and location on the lot.
- Temporary signs advertising the date, time and location of a garage or yard sale.
- Signs attached to the inside of a window and not exceeding four (4) square feet in area.
- Signs which are an integral part of the historic character of a landmark building and/or historic district.
- Public signs regulating vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic, or designating or otherwise giving direction to streets, schools, hospitals, historical sites and/or public facilities.
- Flags of any government and/or governmental agency, or any patriotic, religious, charitable, civic, educational and/or fraternal organization.
- Hand-held signs of a non-commercial nature, not set on or otherwise affixed to the ground, and not exceeding ten (10) square feet in area.
- Special events pennants and banners specifically approved by the code enforcement officer.
- Home and commercial building plaques or tablets denoting a building name and/or date of erection or a location of historic significance.
- Memorial or commemorative plaques or tablets denoting a building name and/or date of erection or a location of historic significance.
- Property identification signs indicating address and/or name and not exceeding two (2) square feet in area.
- Construction signs identifying the architects, engineers, contractors, and other individuals or firms involved with the construction of a residential, commercial and/or industrial project.
- Holiday/seasonal decorations customarily displayed on a national, state, local or religious holiday.
- Official notices authorized by a court, public body or public safety official.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Master sign plan required for all landlord or single-owner controlled multiple-occupancy development complexes on parcels exceeding 8 acres.
- The master sign plan shall establish standards and criteria for all signs in the complex that require permits.
- All applications for sign permits for signage within a multiple-occupancy development complex shall comply with the master sign plan.
- Any amendments to a master sign plan must be signed and approved by the owner(s) within the development complex before such amendment will become effective.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for South Holland, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=South+Holland+IL&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-south-holland

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