# Sign Regulations in Wauconda, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Wauconda, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/wauconda
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-09
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/IL/Wauconda/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TITXVLAUS_CH152SIRE)

## At a glance

Wauconda, Illinois regulates 19 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Monument or Pylon)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at Monument: 6 ft (max 10 ft with setback), Pylon: 20 ft tall and 50 to 100 sq ft per side (LI: 150 sq ft per side), with a Required—see formula for monument sign height bonus. setback (Sec. Sec 152.10 (a)-(f)). Most commercial signs in Wauconda require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | Monument: 6 ft (max 10 ft with setback), Pylon: 20 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| Residential Zoning Districts (R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, RSH) | 7 | 4 ft | 16 sq ft | — |
| Central Business Zone (CB), Retail Business Zone (RB), Commercial Recreation Zone (CR), General Business Zone (GB), Light Industrial Zone (LI), Office Research Zone (OR) | 9 | Monument: 6–10 ft; Pylon: 20 ft | 100 sq ft | — |

## 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 | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business, or 2 for corner or multiple frontage | Applied to building wall. Not allowed in residential districts unless otherwise specified. | — | Sec. 152.08 (a)-(d) |
| Freestanding Sign (Monument or Pylon) | Monument: 6 ft (max 10 ft with setback), Pylon: 20 ft | 50 to 100 sq ft per side (LI: 150 sq ft per side) | — | Required—see formula for monument sign height bonus. | 1 per lot, or 2 with sufficient frontage | On zoning lot only; cannot project over/onto public/adjacent property; not in residential zones. | — | Sec 152.10 (a)-(f) |
| Electronic Message Center / Reader Board (Freestanding) | See freestanding sign rules | Up to 50 sq ft (general), up to 75 sq ft (LI zone) | — | Same as freestanding sign | Same as freestanding sign rules | Allowed only as or as part of a freestanding sign. | — | Sec. 152.10 (f)-(g) |
| Projecting, Hanging Sign (CB, CR, GB, LI, RB only) | — | 12 sq ft (CB, CR); 35 sq ft (GB, RB, LI) | — | — | 1 per business, 2 for corner/dual frontage | Mounted at or near 90° to building wall | — | Sec. 152.09 |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 4 ft | 8 sq ft | — | — | — | In Commercial and Residential zones, base must touch building; must not block pedestrian walkway. | — | Sec. 152.06 (e) |
| Portable Sign | 4 ft (Residential, CB, CR, RB) | 8 sq ft (Residential, CB, CR, RB); 32 sq ft (GB, OR, LI) | — | — | — | Base must be in contact with building (business use). Not allowed if impairs vision/creates a hazard. | — | Sec. 152.06 (c) |
| Special Event Sign (CB, RB, GB, Nonprofits) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 (2 on multi-frontage/corner) | On building or zoning parcel; off-premise for nonprofits with landowner consent. | — | Sec. 152.06 (d) |

### Residential Zoning Districts (R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, RSH)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate | — | 2 sq ft (commercial/home/public institutional); 1.5 sq ft (residential street/house nameplates) | — | — | 1 per occupant/resident (2 on corner lot for street/house plates) | On building/lot. For street/house: 2 per corner lot dwelling unit, one facing each street. | — | Sec. 152.05 (c), (j) |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential) | — | 8 sq ft (single family/structures <6 units); 32 sq ft (structures 6+ units) | — | — | 1 sign; open house: 2 + directionals (event day only) | On premises only, not closer than 5 ft to other zoning lot. | — | Sec. 152.05 (a) |
| Bulletin Board Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1, or 2 for corner lots | On premises of public/charitable/religious institution | — | Sec. 152.05 (d) |
| Political Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | — | Private property; not in right-of-way/public utility land. | — | Sec. 152.05 (p) |
| No Trespassing/Dumping/Hunting Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 2 per side of lot | — | — | Sec. 152.05 (n) |
| Garage Sale Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | 6 | — | — | Sec. 152.06 (a) |
| Portable/Sandwich Board Sign (Temporary, residential) | 4 ft | 8 sq ft per face | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 152.06 (c) |

### Central Business Zone (CB), Retail Business Zone (RB), Commercial Recreation Zone (CR), General Business Zone (GB), Light Industrial Zone (LI), Office Research Zone (OR)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1, or 2 for multi-frontage | Applied to building wall. | — | Sec. 152.08 |
| Projecting, Hanging Sign | — | 12 sq ft/35 sq ft | — | — | 1, or 2 for multi-frontage | Perpendicular to building wall. | — | Sec. 152.09 |
| Freestanding Monument or Pylon Sign | Monument: 6–10 ft; Pylon: 20 ft | 50-100 sq ft per side (150 LI) | — | Setback increases allowable monument sign height. | 1 or 2 | On zoning lot, cannot project into/over public or adjacent property. | — | Sec. 152.10 |
| Electronic Message Center / Reader Board (Freestanding) | — | 50 sq ft (most), 75 sq ft (LI) | — | Same as freestanding sign | Same as freestanding sign | Only as freestanding sign or part thereof. | — | Sec. 152.10 (g) |
| Special Event Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 or 2 | On building or parcel; nonprofits may install off-premise with consent. | — | Sec. 152.06 (d) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 4 ft | 8 sq ft | — | — | — | Base must contact building; not to block pedestrian walkway. | — | Sec. 152.06 (e) |
| Portable Sign | 4 ft (CB/CR/RB) | 8 sq ft (CB/CR/RB); 32 sq ft (GB/LI/OR) | — | — | — | Base must contact building (business use); not to block/impair vision; no hazard. | — | Sec. 152.06 (c) |
| Political Sign (GB, LI, OR) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | On private property, not in right-of-way or utility land. | — | Sec. 152.05 (p)(1) |

## Prohibited signs in Wauconda

- It shall be unlawful to paint or cause to be painted any sign, advertising, wording, or symbol on any wall, fence or any structure except if professionally painted on the removable surface of the sign face (not directly on the wall).
- It shall be unlawful to install or maintain a roof sign.
- It shall be unlawful to install or maintain any sign advertising a business or service which is not located on the same property as the sign (off-premise sign).
- No sign shall be placed on or suspended from any building or structure, utility pole, street lighting pole, fence, street sign, tree, ground, or other devices, or attached to any goods, ware, merchandise, or other advertising object or structure designed to direct attention as defined and regulated by this chapter.
- It shall be unlawful to park any vehicle or trailer on any public right-of-way, public property, or private property with any sign or advertising device attached or located thereon for the basic purpose of providing advertisement of products or services or direction. This does not prohibit incidental signs on vehicles/trailers used primarily as vehicles/trailers.
- It shall be unlawful to display upon any sign any obscene, indecent, or immoral matter.
- It shall be unlawful to place, erect, suspend, install, or maintain any inflatable signs, balloon advertisements, or search and beacon lights.
- It shall be unlawful to install a backlit translucent awning.
- It shall be unlawful to install electronic message centers and electronic reader boards, except as a freestanding sign and subject to requirements for such signs.
- Inflatable signs, moving signs, signs containing motion pictures or emission of sounds or odors are prohibited, except as otherwise permitted within this chapter.
- Portable signs and other signs which require a permit are prohibited unless otherwise allowed.
- Signs other than governmental signs are prohibited within any public right-of-way, public easement or public utility.
- Lighted signs with exposed light bulbs or neon tubing are prohibited. The light source must be concealed.

## Signs exempt from permit in Wauconda

- No permit or fee is required for the following (but they must comply with construction, location, and maintenance standards and size limits):
- Residential real estate signs (size-limited); including not more than two open house signs and direction signs with property owner permission, displayed only during open house.
- Commercial real estate signs (size-limited), only on the property being advertised, except as provided for certain commercial parcels.
- Nameplate signs for occupants in commercial, home, or public institutional buildings (not to exceed 2 square feet).
- Bulletin boards for public, charitable, or religious institutions (size-limited, on-premises, one per lot except two on corner lots).
- Cornerstones, plaques or tablets denoting names of buildings and date of erection, names of buildings, or dates cut into masonry.
- Traffic and other signs erected by the village, legal notices, danger, and emergency or nonadvertising signs as may be approved by the village.
- Decorations displayed in connection with civic, patriotic, or religious holidays.
- Flags, emblems, and insignia of political, civic, philanthropic, religious, or educational organizations displayed for noncommercial purposes.
- Flags, emblems, notices, and signs of an official court, public office, or governmental unit displayed for noncommercial purposes.
- Residential street and/or house nameplate signs (not exceeding 1.5 square feet, or two per corner lot dwelling unit).
- Reasonable application upon the glass surface of a door or window of lettering or decals giving basic business or property info; such graphics are not counted toward allowable window sign area.
- Nonpermanent signs in windows and/or doors advertising sales and product promotions, provided they do not cover more than 50 percent of the glass area.
- A single temporary help-wanted sign of five square feet or less in the window of a business offering employment on the premises.
- A maximum of two no trespassing, no dumping, or no hunting signs per side of lot, not to exceed two square feet in area.
- Flags, pennants, and fringe type streamers used on new and used car retail sales areas only, provided they are kept in good condition, do not encroach on public right-of-way, do not obstruct traffic vision, and do not create a health or welfare hazard.
- Political signs, size-limited per zoning district and not on public property or right-of-way, with property owner consent.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Multiple tenant or owner-occupied buildings are encouraged to develop a master sign plan that incorporates each business located in the building. Only one freestanding sign per one freestanding building is permitted, with size and location as specified on the sign permit.
- Applications for sign permits must include drawings of the plans, specifications, and methods of construction and attachment for the proposed sign, as well as other documentation as required by the Building and Zoning Department.
- Relief from standards (variances or special uses) is considered by the Village Board, and applicants must submit written and graphic evidence showing why the relief is warranted.

## Full detail

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

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