# Sign Regulations in Villa Park, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Villa Park, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/villa-park
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-09
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/IL/Villa_Park/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=MUCO_APXCBAZOOR_ART8SI)

## At a glance

Villa Park, Illinois regulates 32 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Promotional Pole Banners in the Nonresidential Zoning Districts, Nonresidential Districts, Commercial Zoning Districts, Industrial Zoning Districts, St. Charles Road zoning district are capped at 8 ft (banner itself, not mounting height); must have min 9 ft vertical clearance tall, 20 sq ft (8 ft high x 2.5 ft wide); 2 banners max per pole, and 2.5 ft wide, with a Min 9 ft vertical clearance setback (Sec. 8.3.6.E(2)). Most commercial signs in Villa Park require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 14 | 6 ft | Max 32 sq ft per lot; individual sign max 9 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Zoning Districts (Villa Avenue Business District), Commercial Zoning Districts (Ardmore Avenue Business District), Commercial Zoning Districts (Train Station Area), Ardmore Avenue Business District, Villa Avenue Business District, Train Station Area | 1 | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — |
| R Districts, Residential Districts | 3 | 6 ft | Up to 50% of allowed sign area of subject sign | — |
| Nonresidential Zoning Districts, Nonresidential Districts, Commercial Zoning Districts, Industrial Zoning Districts, St. Charles Road | 14 | 25 ft | Up to 75% of window area | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | All zoning districts | — | 8.3.1 |
| Commemorative Wall Plaque | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | All zoning districts | — | 8.3.1 |
| Driveway Sign (Primary) | 3 ft | 4 sq ft | — | Within 10 feet of intersection of driveway and street right-of-way | One per entrance/exit | At each vehicle entrance and exit to allowed nonresidential use or multi-unit (residential) building; must be within 10 ft of driveway and street right-of-way | — | 8.3.4.A |
| Driveway Sign (Internal Site) | 6 ft | 8 sq ft | — | Within 10 feet of edge of driveway/aisle | — | Within 10 ft of internal site driveway, drive aisle, or parking space (for off-street parking >4 vehicles, multi-tenant, or lots >80,000 sq ft) | — | 8.3.4.B |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | — | R Districts: 8 sq ft for ≤50' frontage; All other districts: 8 sq ft for ≤50' frontage, 8+1 sq ft per additional foot over 50’; max 100 sq ft | — | — | One per street frontage | Per street frontage | — | 8.3.6.A, Table 8-1 |
| Temporary Construction Sign | — | See real estate sign regs (8 sq ft or up to 100 sq ft depending on frontage/district) | — | — | One per street frontage | Per street frontage while construction is ongoing | — | 8.3.6.B |
| Campaign Sign (Residential Districts) | — | Max 16 sq ft per lot; individual sign max 4 sq ft | — | — | Unlimited per lot, so long as total does not exceed 16 sq ft | Private property only, with owner's consent | — | 8.3.6.C |
| Campaign Sign (Nonresidential Zoning Districts) | — | Max 32 sq ft per lot; individual sign max 9 sq ft | — | — | Unlimited per lot, so long as total does not exceed 32 sq ft | Private property only, with owner's consent | — | 8.3.6.C |

### R Districts, Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Nonresidential Use or Multi-Unit Residential Building) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per public entrance | On building wall; per public building entrance | — | 8.5.2.1 |
| Monument Sign (Nonresidential Use or Multi-Unit Residential Building) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per street frontage | Per street frontage | — | 8.5.2.2 |
| Electronic Message Display Panel (Special Use Only in R Districts) | — | Up to 50% of allowed sign area of subject sign | — | — | One sign per lot | Only on allowed public, civic, or institutional use; only with special use approval | — | 8.5.2.3, 8.7 |

### Nonresidential Zoning Districts, Nonresidential Districts, Commercial Zoning Districts, Industrial Zoning Districts, St. Charles Road

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 ft | 50-200 sq ft depending on frontage; 2 signs if >350 ft frontage | — | At least 10 ft from all street rights-of-way; includes sign structure and face | One per lot, or two if >350 ft frontage, plus vehicle sales and fuel station bonuses | On subject lot; not in yards abutting R-zoned lots | — | 8.6.2 |
| Projecting Sign | 20 ft above mean grade of abutting street | 50 sq ft per sign | — | — | One per building or tenant space | Mounted to any exterior wall except those facing abutting R-zoned lot | — | 8.6.4 |
| Promotional Banner Sign | 4 ft | 10 ft length x 4 ft height | 10 ft | — | One per lot, two per multi-tenant (3+ tenants) | Affixed flush with building wall, secured at all four corners | — | 8.3.6.E(1) |
| Promotional Pole Banner | 8 ft (banner itself, not mounting height); must have min 9 ft vertical clearance | 20 sq ft (8 ft high x 2.5 ft wide); 2 banners max per pole | 2.5 ft | Min 9 ft vertical clearance | 2 per pole | Secured to permanently mounted light poles or standards | — | 8.3.6.E(2) |
| Promotional Placard Sign | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Adjacent to principal structure | — | 8.3.6.E(3) |
| Grand Opening Signs | Inflatable: 20 ft; others per type | Inflatable device banner: 32 sq ft commercial message area, 20 ft high; Banner: 10 ft length/4 ft height; Portable sign: 32 sq ft | — | Per zoning district | Up to 3 different types per event | On-premises | — | 8.3.6.D |
| Drive-through Sign (Primary) | 8 ft | 36 sq ft per sign | — | 25 ft from residential zoning; within 10 ft of lane | Up to 2 per lot (primary) | Within 10 ft of drive-through lane | — | 8.3.5.B |
| Drive-through Sign (Secondary) | 6 ft | 16 sq ft per sign | — | 25 ft from residential zoning; within 10 ft of lane | Up to 2 per lot (secondary) | Within 10 ft of drive-through lane | — | 8.3.5.B |

## Prohibited signs in Villa Park

- Signs for which a required permit has not been issued.
- Signs located in such a manner as to constitute a nuisance as provided in the village code.
- Search lights, strobe lights, rotating beacon lights, flashing lights that are visible from public right-of-way, except as otherwise expressly allowed by this article or required by law.
- Permanent signs located in or obstructing a required parking or loading space, or that otherwise obstruct vehicular or pedestrian access or circulation, or that pose any other hazard to motorized or nonmotorized travel.
- Signs located in or that project into the right-of-way of a public street unless otherwise expressly stated in this article or a right-of-way permit or license agreement has been approved by the village.
- Signs that obstruct any fire escape, required exit, window or door opening used as a means of egress.
- Signs that interfere with an opening required for ventilation, except that signs may cover transom windows when not in violation of applicable building and fire safety codes.
- Signs affixed directly to a tree, utility pole or traffic control device.
- Signs that obstruct, impair, obscure, interfere with the view of, or that may be confused with, any authorized traffic control sign, signal, or device.
- Sign displays with a brightness of such intensity or brilliance that they impair the vision or endanger the safety and welfare of any pedestrian, cyclist, or person operating a motor vehicle.
- Signs that violate the intersection visibility triangle regulations of Sec. 9.3.
- Pole signs.
- Off-premise advertising signs.
- Signs attached to or painted on an inoperable or unlicensed vehicle (motorized or non-motorized) located in view of the right-of-way.
- Signs attached to or painted on a licensed motor vehicle if the sign directs attention to a business, service, commodity, or activity offered or sold on the premises and if the vehicle is parked closer to the street than the nearest building wall (except for vehicles parked for the purpose of immediate loading and unloading).
- All signs that are applied with paint or similar substance on the face of a wall are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Signs on property that becomes vacant and unoccupied for six (6) months or more, or pertains to a time, event, or purpose that has passed or no longer applies (abandoned signs), are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Villa Park

- Nameplates, commemorative wall plaques, and commemorative wall inscriptions not exceeding the maximum area and illumination limits are allowed in all zoning districts and do not require a permit.
- Certain sandwich board signs, as specified, are exempt from permit requirements when complying with regulations.
- Driveway signs as specified are exempt when meeting area and height regulations.
- Drive-through signs for allowed uses, if complying with location, number, and visibility requirements.
- Temporary real estate signs, construction signs, and campaign signs as specified are exempt from permit requirements unless illuminated.
- Grand opening signs in nonresidential districts with a grand opening permit are allowed as specified.
- Promotional signs (banner, pole banners, placard, window) for nonresidential uses are allowed as sign exceptions, under the rules specified.
- Signs of notice, warning, directive, or instructional nature erected by or on behalf of a government or agency.
- Flags, emblems or insignia of any nation or political subdivision.
- Signs located completely within enclosed buildings, provided such signs are primarily visible from inside the subject building.
- Labels and notices on equipment or structures, provided such label or notice does not exceed fifteen (15) square inches in area.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A master sign plan is required for all new shopping centers and other multi-tenant developments.
- No sign permit may be issued for a new multi-tenant development until a master sign plan has been reviewed and approved.
- A master sign plan is not required for existing multi-tenant developments except when the development is being rehabilitated or expanded and the value of such rehabilitation or expansion exceeds three (3) times the equalized assessed valuation of the development for the most recent tax year.
- Sign permit applications must include detailed plans, including scaled drawings of the proposed sign and a detailed site plan.
- Village board approval is required for special event/recognition signs.

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

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