# Sign Regulations in Tinley Park, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Tinley Park, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/tinley-park
- **Data last verified:** 2026-01-22
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://cms6.revize.com/revize/tinleypark/document_center/Department/Community%20Development/Ordinances/SECTION%2009.pdf?t=202307181616330&t=202307181616330)

## At a glance

Tinley Park, Illinois regulates 43 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign - General Standards in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at Varies by zone; see zone-specific tables; height measured from average natural grade within 10 feet to top of sign including base/decorative elements tall and Varies by zone; see zone-specific tables, with a Minimum 10 feet from all property lines; minimum 2 feet from any drive aisles, parking stalls, or sidewalks setback (Sec. Section IX.D.2.a-l (Pages 10-13)). Most commercial signs in Tinley Park 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 | 28 | Max 25 feet from grade | Max 45 SF per lane | — |
| Residential Zoning Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, R-6, & R-7) | 3 | 72 inches (6 feet) | 30 SF per sign | — |
| Business Zoning Districts (B-1, B-2, B-3, & B-4) | 7 | 120 inches (10 feet) | 1 SF per LF; max 120 SF per sign | — |
| Automotive Service Zoning District (B-5) | 4 | 216 inches (18 feet) | 2 SF per LF; total for all signs per tenant frontage ≤ 400 SF | — |
| Office/Industrial Zoning Districts (ORI & M-1) | 5 | 120 inches (10 feet) | 1 SF per 2 LF; max 120 SF per sign | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign - General Standards | Varies by zone; see zone-specific tables; height measured from average natural grade within 10 feet to top of sign including base/decorative elements | Varies by zone; see zone-specific tables | — | Minimum 10 feet from all property lines; minimum 2 feet from any drive aisles, parking stalls, or sidewalks | Varies by zone and lot frontage; see zone tables | Only within premises of the development it identifies; not in public right-of-way; not within easements; not obstruct clear sight triangles; address may appear on base | — | Section IX.D.2.a-l (Pages 10-13) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 4 feet | 7 SF per side | — | — | 1 per tenant | Within 15 feet of tenant’s entrance; cannot be displayed outdoors while business is closed | — | Section IX.B.4.k (Page 4) |
| Temporary Banner | Freestanding temporary banner: max 6 feet from grade | — | — | Minimum 10 feet from all property lines (except certain exempt signs); 20-foot minimum for inflatables; not in ROW or easements | Determined by Zoning Administrator; must not be ostentatious and proportional to area | May be placed on a wall or as a freestanding temporary sign; must be on the premises it identifies; minimum 10-foot setback from property lines (except certain exempt signs); not in ROW/easements/parking spaces/sidewalks/utility poles/trees/traffic signs/roofs; cannot obstruct visibility | — | Section IX.I.1-4 (Pages 20-22) |
| Temporary Feather Flag Sign | Max 15 feet from grade | — | — | Minimum 10 feet from property lines | Determined by Zoning Administrator | Freestanding temporary ground sign; must comply with temporary sign location rules | — | Section IX.I.2.b and I.1.c-d (Pages 21, 20) |
| Temporary Lawn Sign | Max 3 feet from grade | — | — | Minimum 10 feet from property lines | Determined by Zoning Administrator | Freestanding temporary sign placed into ground with thin metal stakes; must comply with temporary sign location rules | — | Section IX.I.2.c and I.1.d-f (Pages 21, 20) |
| Inflatable Sign | Max 25 feet from grade | Sign face area calculated by size of banner accessory to inflatables | — | Minimum 20 feet from property lines | Determined by Zoning Administrator | Only allowed on the ground; must be minimum 20 feet from property lines; must comply with temporary sign location rules | — | Section IX.I.2.d and I.1.d.iv (Pages 21, 20) |
| Wall Sign (I-80 Corridor) | — | 1 SF per LF of building/tenant frontage facing I-80 | — | Setback for table categories measured to I-80 pavement (0–300 feet; 301–500 feet; 501+ feet) | 1 per tenant frontage facing I-80 | On wall(s) facing I-80 | — | Section IX.K.1-3 (Page 25) |
| Directional Sign - Freestanding | Max 4 feet | Max 6 SF per sign | — | At least 1 foot from property lines | Determined by Zoning Administrator | Within landscaped areas on the site | — | Section IX.L.2.d.i-iv (Page 26) |

### Business Zoning Districts (B-1, B-2, B-3, & B-4)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Up to 10,000 SF GFA) | — | 1 SF per LF; max 120 SF per sign | — | — | 1 per tenant frontage | On tenant façade per general wall sign standards | — | Section IX.F.1 table (Page 16) and Section IX.D.1 (Pages 8-9) |
| Wall Sign (10,001 - 25,000 SF GFA) | — | 1 SF per LF; max 120 SF per sign | — | — | 1 per tenant frontage | On tenant façade per general wall sign standards | — | Section IX.F.1 table (Page 16) |
| Wall Sign (25,001 - 80,000 SF GFA) | — | 1 SF per LF; max 120 SF per sign | — | — | 1 per tenant frontage | On tenant façade per general wall sign standards | — | Section IX.F.1 table (Page 16) |
| Wall Sign (Over 80,000 SF GFA) | — | 1 SF per LF; max 120 SF per sign | — | — | 1 per tenant frontage | On tenant façade per general wall sign standards | — | Section IX.F.1 table (Page 16) |
| Freestanding Sign (< 500 feet Lot Frontage) | 120 inches (10 feet) | 1 SF per 2.5 LF; max 120 SF per sign | — | Minimum 10 feet from property lines; minimum 2 feet from drive aisles/parking/sidewalks; not in easements; not obstruct clear sight triangles | 1 per directly adjacent public frontage; max 2; spaced 300 feet apart | On premises; at directly adjacent public frontage | — | Section IX.F.2 table (Page 17) and Section IX.D.2 (Pages 10-13) |
| Freestanding Sign (500 - 1,000 feet Lot Frontage) | 120 inches (10 feet) | 1 SF per 2.5 LF; max 120 SF per sign | — | Minimum 10 feet from property lines; minimum 2 feet from drive aisles/parking/sidewalks; not in easements; not obstruct clear sight triangles | 2 per directly adjacent public frontage; max 2; spaced 300 feet apart | On premises; at directly adjacent public frontage | — | Section IX.F.2 table (Page 17) |
| Freestanding Sign (> 1,000 feet Lot Frontage) | 120 inches (10 feet) | 1 SF per 2.5 LF; max 120 SF per sign | — | Minimum 10 feet from property lines; minimum 2 feet from drive aisles/parking/sidewalks; not in easements; not obstruct clear sight triangles | 3 per directly adjacent public frontage; max 3; spaced 300 feet apart | On premises; at directly adjacent public frontage | — | Section IX.F.2 table (Page 17) |

### Office/Industrial Zoning Districts (ORI & M-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Up to 10,000 SF GFA) | — | 1 SF per 2 LF; max 120 SF per sign | — | — | 1 per tenant frontage | On tenant façade per general wall sign standards | — | Section IX.H.1 table (Page 19) and Section IX.D.1 (Pages 8-9) |
| Wall Sign (10,001 - 25,000 SF GFA) | — | 1 SF per 2 LF; max 120 SF per sign | — | — | 1 per tenant frontage | On tenant façade per general wall sign standards | — | Section IX.H.1 table (Page 19) |
| Wall Sign (25,001 - 80,000 SF GFA) | — | 1 SF per 2 LF; max 120 SF per sign | — | — | 1 per tenant frontage | On tenant façade per general wall sign standards | — | Section IX.H.1 table (Page 19) |
| Wall Sign (Over 80,000 SF GFA) | — | 1 SF per 2 LF; max 120 SF per sign | — | — | 1 per tenant frontage | On tenant façade per general wall sign standards | — | Section IX.H.1 table (Page 19) |
| Freestanding Sign (Any Lot Frontage) | 120 inches (10 feet) | 1 SF per 2.5 LF; max 120 SF per sign | — | Minimum 10 feet from property lines; minimum 2 feet from drive aisles/parking/sidewalks; not in easements; not obstruct clear sight triangles | 1 per directly adjacent public frontage; max 2 | On premises; at directly adjacent public frontage | — | Section IX.H.2 table (Page 19) and Section IX.D.2 (Pages 10-13) |

## Prohibited signs in Tinley Park

- Signs erected without a valid permit when a permit is required are prohibited.
- Off-premise signs are prohibited.
- Billboards are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Manually changeable message signs are prohibited.
- Pennants, streamers, and festoon lights are prohibited unless authorized by the Zoning Administrator or their designee.
- Air dancer signs are prohibited.
- Vehicle signs used for advertising that are parked in the public right-of-way, on public property, or on private property where visible from a public right-of-way are prohibited unless the vehicle is actively used during business hours for deliveries or related business activity; in no case may such vehicles park in those areas in close proximity to the subject business during non-business hours.
- Signs containing obscene, indecent, or immoral content are prohibited.
- Miscellaneous advertising devices (other than conforming signs) are prohibited unless approved by the Village Board.
- Signs that could be mistaken for traffic control signs or lights are prohibited.
- Illumination in the form of rotating beams, beacons, or flashing illumination resembling an emergency light is prohibited.
- Signs that flash, blink, flutter, have motion, change in light intensity or brightness, are animated, or create an illusion of movement are prohibited (except EMC/DVEM signs as specifically regulated).
- Strings of lights outlining property lines, sales areas, doors, windows, or wall edges of a building are prohibited.
- Neon or other illuminated tubing is prohibited unless approved as an architectural enhancement (Plan Commission approval during Site Plan Approval for new construction, or approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals for existing uses).
- Signs must not conflict with traffic signs.
- Signs must not obstruct doors, windows, ventilation, or fire escapes.
- No exposed reflective-type bulb or incandescent lamp exceeding 15 watts may be used on the exterior surface of any sign so that the face of the bulb/light/lamp is exposed to any public street or adjacent property.
- Illumination of signs must not be projected onto other properties and must be kept to a minimum during non-business hours.
- No illuminated sign may exceed 500 nits when measured from the surface of the sign.
- Signs shall not serve as nesting places for animals.

## Signs exempt from permit in Tinley Park

- Signs required or erected by government agencies (exempt from permit).
- Political signs on private property up to a total of 32 square feet (all faces visible from the right-of-way) and up to 5 feet in height, consistent with 65 ILCS 5/11-13-1-12 (exempt from permit).
- One non-illuminated temporary sign up to 4 square feet (total of all faces visible from the right-of-way) and 4 feet in height, at least 1 foot from property lines and compliant with temporary sign regulations (exempt from permit).
- One non-illuminated temporary sign up to 16 square feet (total of all faces visible from the right-of-way) and 4 feet in height, at least 1 foot from property lines and compliant with temporary sign regulations, allowed only when: property is for sale (remove within 14 days after contract execution), property is under construction with a building permit (remove within 14 days after final inspection), or a residential property is opened to the public (display no more than 3 consecutive days twice per calendar year) (exempt from permit).
- Substitution of commercial copy to non-commercial copy on signs in non-residential zoning districts (B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, B-5, ORI, M-1) without increasing sign area/height or changing location (exempt from permit).
- Address signs identifying the property number sized between 4 inches and 12 inches in height, reasonably proportional to building size and set back from street; may be on mailbox or suitable device if building not visible; mailbox address signs in the public right-of-way are allowed (exempt from permit).
- Integral signs up to 4 square feet (exempt from permit).
- Memorial signs up to 4 square feet (exempt from permit).
- Professional name plates up to 2 square feet (exempt from permit).
- Outdoor bulletin boards up to 4 square feet attached to the wall near the entrance (exempt from permit).
- Sandwich boards meeting all: one per tenant; maximum 7 square feet per side; maximum height 4 feet; located within 15 feet of tenant entrance; not displayed when business is closed (exempt from permit).
- Flags with area per side not exceeding 1 square foot per foot of flagpole height and flagpole height within zoning height limits (exempt from permit).
- Light pole banners with no more than two vinyl banners per pole and each banner not exceeding 8 square feet (exempt from permit).
- Window signs on first-floor windows only, located at 4 feet and below or at 7 feet and above; not exceeding 25% of tenant’s total window area and no more than 50% of a single window; located on interior side of window (exempt from permit).
- Door signs not exceeding 20% of the door face area and located on interior side of the door (exempt from permit).
- Signs located completely within an enclosed building and not exposed to view from the public right-of-way or parking lot (exempt from permit).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No explicit master sign plan requirement is stated in Section IX.
- For new construction, freestanding sign architectural compatibility is reviewed and determined by the Plan Commission through the Site Plan Approval process; for existing businesses, compatibility is determined by the Zoning Administrator during the building permit process.
- Illuminated tubing is generally prohibited unless approved as an architectural enhancement: for new construction during Site Plan Approval by the Plan Commission, and for existing uses by the Zoning Board of Appeals.
- Drive-thru accessory signage standards apply only to businesses that have received Site Plan Approval for a drive-thru lane.

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/tinley-park