# Sign Regulations in Willowbrook, Illinois

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Willowbrook, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/willowbrook
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-20

## At a glance

Willowbrook, Illinois regulates 15 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Single-Tenant Monument Signs in the B zoning district are capped at 7 ft tall and 50 sq. ft., with a Min 5 ft from all property lines/ROW/utility easements setback (Sec. Table 9-6-04, 9-6-05(B), 9-6-07(A)). Most commercial signs in Willowbrook require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5 | 2 | 7 ft | 50 sq. ft. | — |
| B | 10 | 16 ft | 100 sq. ft. | — |
| LOR, M-1 | 9 | 16 ft | 100 sq. ft. | — |
| I | 9 | 16 ft | 100 sq. ft. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 6 ft | 6 sq. ft. | — |

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

### B

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | No higher than roofline/parapet/mansard roof | — | — | — | Single tenant: 2 primary (1/facade); Multitenant: 1/unit; up to 2 secondary where eligible | Building façade; not to cover architectural features; not on roof protrusions other than integral architectural features. | — | Table 9-6-04, 9-6-05(A) |
| Single-Tenant Monument Sign | 7 ft | 50 sq. ft. | — | Min 5 ft from all property lines/ROW/utility easements | One per lot frontage | Minimum 5 ft from all property lines/ROW/utility easements | — | Table 9-6-04, 9-6-05(B), 9-6-07(A) |
| Multi-Tenant Monument Sign | 16 ft | 100 sq. ft. | — | Min 5 ft from all property lines/ROW/utility easements | One per lot frontage | Minimum 5 ft from all property lines/ROW/utility easements | — | Table 9-6-04, 9-6-05(C), 9-6-07(A) |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Above ground floor entrances or windows only | — | Table 9-6-04, 9-6-05(D) |
| Projecting Sign | 12 ft or below roofline, whichever is less | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | One per ground floor tenant | Attached to building; may project over ROW/easement (hold harmless agreement may be required) | — | Table 9-6-04, 9-6-05(E) |
| Wall Mounted Banner Sign (Temporary) | No higher than roofline/parapet/mansard roof | — | — | — | 2 (single tenant); 1 per unit (multi-tenant) | Affixed to building only; flat against building | — | Table 9-6-04, 9-6-06(B) |
| Ground Mounted Temporary Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On ground, securely anchored | — | Table 9-6-04, 9-6-06(C) |
| On-Site Traffic Directional Sign | 4 ft | 4 sq. ft. | — | Min 5 ft from all property lines/ROW/utility easements | As determined by Village Administrator | As necessary to assist in traffic, as determined by Village Administrator; min 5 ft from all property lines/ROW/utility easements | — | Table 9-6-04, 9-6-05(G), 9-6-07(A) |

### LOR, M-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | No higher than roofline/parapet/mansard roof | — | — | — | Single tenant: 2 primary (1/facade); Multi-tenant: 1/unit; 2 secondary where eligible | Building façade; not to cover architectural features or certain roof protrusions | — | Table 9-6-04, 9-6-05(A) |
| Single-Tenant Monument Sign | 7 ft | 50 sq. ft. | — | Min 5 ft from all property lines/ROW/utility easements | One per lot frontage | Min 5 ft from property lines/ROW/utility easements | — | Table 9-6-04, 9-6-05(B), 9-6-07(A) |
| Multi-Tenant Monument Sign | 16 ft | 100 sq. ft. | — | Min 5 ft from all property lines/ROW/utility easements | One per lot frontage | Min 5 ft from all property lines/ROW/utility easements | — | Table 9-6-04, 9-6-05(C), 9-6-07(A) |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Above ground floor entrance or window only | — | Table 9-6-04, 9-6-05(D) |
| Window Sign, Permanent | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed to window | — | Table 9-6-04, 9-6-05(F) |
| Wall Mounted Banner Sign (Temporary) | No higher than roofline/parapet/mansard roof | — | — | — | 2 (single tenant); 1 per unit (multi-tenant) | Affixed to building only; flat against building | — | Table 9-6-04, 9-6-06(B) |
| Ground Mounted Temporary Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On ground, securely anchored | — | Table 9-6-04, 9-6-06(C) |
| On-Site Traffic Directional Sign | 4 ft | 4 sq. ft. | — | Min 5 ft from property lines/ROW/utility easements | As determined by Village Administrator | As determined by Village Administrator; min 5 ft from property lines/ROW/utility easements | — | Table 9-6-04, 9-6-05(G), 9-6-07(A) |

### I

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | No higher than roofline/parapet/mansard roof | — | — | — | Single tenant: 2 primary (1/facade); Multitenant: 1/unit; up to 2 secondary where eligible | Building façade; not to cover architectural features or allowed roof protrusions | — | Table 9-6-04, 9-6-05(A) |
| Single-Tenant Monument Sign | 7 ft | 50 sq. ft. | — | Min 5 ft from property lines/ROW/utility easements | One per lot frontage | Min 5 ft from property lines/ROW/utility easements | — | Table 9-6-04, 9-6-05(B), 9-6-07(A) |
| Multi-Tenant Monument Sign | 16 ft | 100 sq. ft. | — | Min 5 ft from property lines/ROW/utility easements | One per lot frontage | Min 5 ft from property lines/ROW/utility easements | — | Table 9-6-04, 9-6-05(C), 9-6-07(A) |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Above ground floor entrances/windows | — | Table 9-6-04, 9-6-05(D) |
| Window Sign, Permanent | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed to window | — | Table 9-6-04, 9-6-05(F) |
| Wall Mounted Banner Sign (Temporary) | No higher than roofline/parapet/mansard roof | — | — | — | 2 (single tenant); 1 per unit (multi-tenant) | Affixed to building only; flat against building | — | Table 9-6-04, 9-6-06(B) |
| Ground Mounted Temporary Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On ground, securely anchored | — | Table 9-6-04, 9-6-06(C) |
| On-Site Traffic Directional Sign | 4 ft | 4 sq. ft. | — | Min 5 ft from property lines/ROW/utility easements | As determined by Village Administrator | As determined by Village Administrator; min 5 ft from property lines/ROW/utility easements | — | Table 9-6-04, 9-6-05(G), 9-6-07(A) |

## Prohibited signs in Willowbrook

- Off-premises signs/billboards are prohibited.
- Pole/pylon signs are prohibited.
- Flashing signs are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Marquee signs are prohibited.
- Feather signs are prohibited.
- Searchlights are prohibited.
- Signs attached to a utility pole, a tree, a standpipe, gutter, drain or fire escape are prohibited.
- Signs erected so as to impair access to a roof are prohibited.
- Signs located, erected or maintained upon, over, or projecting into any public right-of-way or easement unless otherwise allowed by this Chapter are prohibited.
- Pennants, streamers, and portable signs not specifically permitted or allowed by this Chapter are prohibited.
- Signs, not specifically permitted or allowed by this Chapter, which move or have moving parts, caused either by the wind or mechanically, are prohibited.
- Signs in conflict with traffic signals, vehicular or pedestrian travel, access to fire hydrants and fire lanes and exits, and others which reasonably impede or impair public health, safety, and welfare are prohibited.
- Signs on vehicles, boats, or trailers parked so as to be visible from a public right-of-way for a period exceeding three (3) days are prohibited except for vehicles actively in transport or in the act of receiving/delivering merchandise or service; all such vehicles must be licensed, operable, parked on the property of the business, and in the parking area furthest from any street right-of-way.
- Attention getting devices are prohibited.
- Signs hung across any street or alley are prohibited.
- Signs employing exposed neon lights not completely covered by other acceptable sign materials, except for regulated window signs, are prohibited.
- Signs painted on or otherwise affixed to fences are prohibited.
- Text or graphics of an indecent or immoral nature and harmful to minors are prohibited on signs.
- Text or graphics that advertise unlawful activity are prohibited on signs.
- Text or graphics that are obscene, fighting words, defamation, incitement to imminent lawless action, or true threats are prohibited on signs.
- Text or graphics that present a clear and present danger due to their potential confusion with traffic control signs or public safety information (e.g., use of 'Stop', 'Yield', 'Caution', 'Danger' in a misleading manner) are prohibited.
- Placement or maintenance of any unauthorized sign, signal, marking, or device upon or in view of any highway which imitates or resembles an official traffic control device, or which attempts to direct traffic, is prohibited.
- Placement of any sign upon a highway which hides from view or interferes with traffic or effectiveness of any traffic control devices or signs is prohibited.
- It is unlawful to maintain any sign, signal, marking or device, other than a traffic sign or signal authorized by the Village or relevant authority, which resembles an official traffic control device or hides from view any lawful traffic control device.

## Signs exempt from permit in Willowbrook

- Yard signs in residential districts displayed for a period of forty-eight (48) hours or less are exempt from the requirements of Section 9-6-06.
- Official traffic control or regulatory signs authorized by the Village, Illinois Department of Transportation, Downers Grove Township, or DuPage County are exempt from the general prohibitions on signs resembling official traffic control devices.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Irregularly shaped lots with minimal lot frontage, relative to more typically shaped lots in the district, may petition for additional aggregate sign area through the Comprehensive Sign Plan process (Section 9-6-02(D)).
- Any building or development may elect to submit a comprehensive sign plan; after approval, no permanent sign shall be erected, placed, or maintained except in conformance with the Comprehensive Sign Plan (Section 9-9-07(B)).
- Comprehensive Sign Plans require a public hearing before the Plan Commission and subsequent approval (with or without conditions) or denial by the Village Board (Section 9-9-07(D) & (E)).

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

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