(A)   The sign regulations of this section are intended to balance the public interest in promising safe, well maintained, and attractive village with the interests of businesses, organizations, and individuals in ensuring the ability to identify and advertise products, services, and ideas. The regulations have the following specific objectives:

      (1)   To ensure that signs are designed, constructed, installed and maintained in a way that protects the life, health, property, and the public welfare.

      (2)   To allow signs as a means of communication, while at the same time avoiding nuisances to nearby properties.

      (3)   To support desired character of the village and promote an attractive visual environment.

      (4)   To allow for adequate and effective signs, while preventing signs from dominating the appearance of the area.

      (5)   To ensure that the constitutionally guaranteed right of free speech is protected.

   (B)   The regulations allow for a variety of sign types and sizes, based on zoning, land use and lot/business sizes. They do not necessarily ensure every property owner or business owner’s desired level of visibility.

(Ord. 480B, passed 8-21-1953; Ord. 90-O-036, passed 11-8-1990; Ord. 14-O-36, passed 11-14-2014; Ord. 19-O-20, passed 9-17-2019)

   (A)   Applicability. No SIGN as defined in § 22.011 shall hereafter be located, erected, moved, reconstructed, extended, enlarged, converted or structurally altered except in conformance with the provisions of this section and after issuance of a sign permit by the village, except as provided under exempt signs and exempt changes to signs in this section.

         (a)   Signs established by, or by order of, any governmental body.

         (b)   Emblems or insignia of any nation or political subdivision or non-profit organization.

         (c)   Religious symbols, commemorative plaques or recognized historic agencies, or identification emblems of religious orders or historic agencies.

         (a)   Shall not illuminated.

         (b)   Temporary political signs may be erected on any lot in the village subject to the conditions below and as may be permitted by the owner of such property. Signs in the public right-of- way shall not interfere with or obstruct access, activity or vision along any such public right-of-way.

         (c)   On residential property, temporary political signs shall not exceed 32 square feet, and a height, as measured from average grade of six feet. In the public right-of-way, each temporary political sign shall not exceed a signable area of six square feet or project higher than six feet, as measured from grade.

         (d)   There shall only be one sign per candidate, party or referenda question allowed per frontage of any lot.

         (e)   Each political campaign sign may include information regarding political candidates seeking public office, political parties and/or political/public issues set forth on a ballot

         (a)   One flag with the name or logo of a business or corporation located on-site and mounted either on a flagpole or building shall not exceed a display height of 25 feet and shall not exceed a size of three feet by five feet.

         (b)   A maximum of three flags/flagpoles per lot with a maximum height of 25 feet.

         (c)   Flagpoles must be maintained in good condition.

         (a)   Not-for-profit community event signs are permitted temporary signs. Signs allowed for not-for-profit community events cannot be used as temporary off-premises signs that direct attention to a for-profit commercial activity.

         (b)   When located on private property, permission from the property owner is required. When located on public property, permission from the village or other applicable authority shall be required.

         (c)   Signs for not-for- profit community events shall be limited to 32 square feet in area and shall not exceed a height of eight feet.

   (C)   Exempt changes to signs. No sign permit shall be required for the following changes to exempt or non-exempt signs, but such changes must conform to all applicable sign regulations of this chapter:

      (1)   A change in the copy on a sign designed for replaceable copy, including painted and printed signs; and

      (2)   Painting, cleaning, repair, maintenance or face replacement of a sign not involving structural change and made necessary by breakage or deterioration but not by a change in advertiser.

   (D)   Prohibited signs.

      (1)   Signs that include: animation, flashing , lights, projected or moving images, moving parts or that emit noise, except as authorized by conditional use approval;

      (2)   Temporary and portable signs, except as otherwise permitted by or exempted from these regulations, but not to include public notice signs required under this chapter;

      (3)   Roof signs;

      (4)   Off-premises advertising signs and/or signs on otherwise vacant land other than real estate signs, construction signs or outdoor advertising signs, as defined and regulated in this chapter;

      (5)   Signs on or within parked motor vehicles and designed to be conspicuously visible for advertising or informational purposes from outside the vehicle, other than trailer signs, lettering on trucks or other commercial vehicles, transit advertising on buses and election campaign signs;

      (6)   Signs painted directly on the wall or roof of a building or directly on a fence or other accessory structure or directly on any paved surfaces other than required traffic control information;

      (7)   Neon tubing, or LED tubing, and other lighting outside of the sign area and independent of any information conveyed by an allowed sign used as an architectural element or feature of a building or other structure, except as authorized by conditional use approval;

      (8)   Signs affixed directly to a tree, utility pole, light pole, traffic control device, barn, shed, or other similar structure;

      (9)   Signs attached or painted to an inoperable or unlicensed vehicle (motorized or non-motorized) located in view of the right-of- way;

      (10)   Balloons and other inflatable objects with a diameter of two feet or greater;

      (11)   Moving signs, including any sign that rotates, revolves or has any visible moving parts. Any sign that gives the appearance of movement, including signs designed to be moved by wind or other natural elements;

      (12)   Search lights; and

      (13)   Permanent signs made of plywood, pressed board, or other similar type of non-exterior grade wood products. This prohibition does not apply to temporary signs.

   (E)   Conditional use signs. The following are allowed only as conditional uses:

      (1)   Outdoor advertising signs shall only be allowed as a conditional use in C-3 and I Districts, provided that at no time shall there be more than eight conditional use permits issued at any given time for outdoor advertising signs;

      (2)   Murals or signs painted on exterior walls;

      (3)   Scoreboards for athletic fields; and

      (4)   Marquee signs.

   (F)   Non-conforming signs.

      (1)   All other non-exempt signs lawfully existing, or holding sign permits issued, prior to the date of adoption of this chapter, but which are not in conformance with these regulations, may be continued as nonconformities.

      (2)   Poster panels, painted boards and copy on nonconforming changeable copy signs may be changed, provided that there has been no change in occupancy or use of the premises and that the change does not create any further nonconformity. No nonconforming sign may otherwise be replace with another nonconforming sign.

      (3)   Nonconforming signs shall be subject to all requirements governing the continuation of nonconforming structures as provided in the regulations governing nonconformities in this chapter.

         (a)   Are permitted for non-residential uses in non-residential districts.

         (b)   Each establishment may have one freestanding or wall mounted AGS.

         (c)   Freestanding AGS shall be setback at least five feet from a lot line, shall not exceed a height of 15 feet, and shall not exceed an area of 32 square feet.

         (d)   Attention getting signs for multi-tenant sites are subject to the following standards:

            1.   The display period and separation period noted in prior divisions of this section shall apply to each establishment individually rather than the site as a whole.

            2.   One freestanding AGS is allowed for every 75 feet of street frontage. There must be a 15 foot separation between freestanding attention getting signs.

         (e)   Shall be limited to the following display periods:

            1.   When the attention getting sign advertises an event that has a specific start and end time; a total display period of 30 days prior to the start of the event, the time period of the event and three days following the end of the event.

            2.   All other attention getting signs shall not be posted more than 30 days.

            3.   A maximum of four display periods per year is permitted with a minimum of 30 days between displays.

         (a)   Are permitted for non-residential uses in non-residential districts.

         (b)   Must maintain a vertical clearance of seven feet six inches.

         (c)   Is a permitted obstruction in the front and corner side yard and may not encroach into the public right-of-way.

         (d)   Must be made of durable, weather resistant material such as canvas, canvas like material, nylon, vinyl-coated fabric, or permanent building material such as metal.

         (e)   Sign copy on any awning surface shall be limited to 25% of each surface area. A valance is considered a separate surface area.

         (f)   Awning signs may be externally illuminated and lighting must be focused on the printed area.

         (a)   Shall only be allowed as a conditional use in the C-3, Regional Commercial District and I-1, Industrial District.

         (b)   Shall conform to the bulk standards as set forth in the underlying zoning district.

         (c)   Shall be located a minimum of 500 feet from any other billboard/off- premises advertising sign and from any residential district.

         (d)   Shall not exceed a maximum area of 300 square feet and a maximum height of 25 feet.

         (e)   Illumination shall be internal or indirect.

         (a)   Permitted for non-residential uses in non-residential districts.

         (b)   One blade sign per establishment per street frontage.

         (c)   Is a permitted obstruction into the front and corner side yards, but may not encroach into the public right-of-way.

         (d)   Must maintain a vertical clearance of seven feet six inches. No blade sign affixed to a building may project higher than the building height, including the sign support structure.

         (e)   Must be constructed of wood or simulated wood, metal, durable, weather resistant materials like canvas, canvas like material, nylon, or vinyl coated fabric, plastic or high-density urethane (HDU) foam board or similar durable foam construction. Blade signs constructed of canvas or similar material must be mounted so that they are held taut between support posts that are architecturally compatible with the building.

         (f)   May be internally or externally illuminated. If externally illuminated, all lighting must be directed onto the sign face from above.

         (g)   Blade signs shall not exceed the following area standards:

 

 

         (a)   Are permitted for non-residential uses.

         (b)   The maximum sign area shall not exceed 25% of each surface area. Sign type shall not exceed or be located above the top of the canopy structure.

         (c)   Canopy signs may be internally or externally illuminated. If externally illuminated, the lighting must be focused on the site. Freestanding canopies for gas stations are permitted an illuminated band along each façade of the canopy. The illuminated band is limited to 20% of the overall height of the façade of the canopy.

         (a)   Shall be permitted in all zoning districts.

         (b)   Shall not exceed a maximum sign area of 32 square feet and a height of ten feet.

         (a)   Are permitted for non-residential uses that have frontage along Illinois Route 120 and US Highway 12.

         (b)   The required design standards shall be required:

            1.   Integrated into a freestanding ground or monument type sign that displays the business name or use/development name;

            2.   Is limited to the lower portion of the sign; and

            3.   Does not exceed 50% of the total maximum area allowed for said ground or monument sign as set forth in this chapter.

         (c)   Only one electronic message/display/changing sign shall be allowed per property or per development.

         (d)   Shall conform to the setbacks required for a ground sign. Electronic message signs must be at least 25 feet from the lot line of a residential district. This is measured from the sign face to the lot line.

         (e)   Shall have a static display or in the case of an electronic message board shall have static messages that display for a minimum of ten seconds. Scrolling, fading, flashing, animation or video shall not be permitted, nor is any sound permitted.

         (f)   Off-premises advertising or messaging shall not be allowed, except for those signs owned and operated by governmental agencies.

         (a)   Are permitted for non-residential uses in all zoning districts, except the C-2, Main Street District.

         (b)   Shall be setback at least seven feet from the front or corner side property line and at least 50 feet from any property zoned residential. No ground/monument sign may project into the public right-of-way.

         (c)   May be internally or externally illuminated. If externally illuminated, all light must be directed onto the sign face.

         (d)   Ground signs must be designed with either decorative posts or a monument base that are part of the overall sign structure and sign design. The base of a ground/monument sign shall not be less than 50%, nor 110% of the width of the sign face.

         (e)   Ground signs must be constructed of brick, wood or simulated wood, stone, concrete, metal, plastic, or high-density urethane (HDU) foam board or similar durable foam construction. The base on which a ground is principally supported should typically be constructed of masonry material.

         (f)   Types of ground signs may include:

               a.   One ground sign is permitted for each access point to the development. A minimum separation of 50 feet is required between grounds signs.

               b.   Sign face shall not exceed an area of 50 square feet and a sign height of eight feet.

               a.   One ground sign shall be permitted and shall not exceed an area of 32 square feet and a height of 12 feet.

               c.    Outparcels that are part of a larger development shall be allowed a maximum of one freestanding ground sign that shall not exceed a sign area of 50 square feet, and a maximum sign height of ten feet.

         (a)   Are permitted for all drive-through facilities.

         (b)   Shall be limited to two per drive-through lane.

         (c)   Shall be limited to 50 square feet in area and eight feet in height. The menu board may be designed as separate freestanding signs grouped together and may include the use of preview boards designed as separate freestanding signs and installed a distance earlier in the drive through lane, however the total area of all signs must not exceed the maximum area of 50 square feet.

         (d)   Shall be located in the rear or interior side yard and must be at least 15 feet from any residential district lot line. This is measured from the sign face to the lot line.

         (e)   Menu boards may be internally illuminated. Menu boards may also contain electronic screen for interaction with each customer.

         (a)   Shall be permitted for all non-residential uses in all districts.

         (b)   Are permitted on any building façade that faces a public street or off-street parking areas.

         (c)   Maximum area allowed shall not exceed one and one-half square feet per linear foot of building wall or a maximum of 60 square feet, whichever is greater. Wall signs may be designed as multiple signs grouped together so long as the total area of all signs do not exceed the maximum area allowed.

         (d)   May be internally or externally illuminated. If externally illuminated, all light must be directed onto the sign face.

         (e)   Walls signs shall not project more than 18 inches from the building wall. Wall signs may project no more than 18 inches into the front and/or corner side yard but may not encroach into the public right-of-way.

         (f)   Wall signs are not permitted on architectural appurtenances such as chimneys, penthouses, parapets, or mechanical screen walls.

   (A)   Permits.

      (1)   Contents of sign permit application. An application for a sign permit shall be made upon forms provided by the Zoning Administrator and shall include the following information:

         (a)   A complete Planning and Zoning Commission application packet;

         (b)   A fully dimensioned and to scale site plan indicating setbacks and showing the location of the sign to property lines and existing conditions such as building(s) and parking lot;

         (c)   A fully dimensioned and to scale sign detail. This detail must also include the sign area, sign height, and exterior finishes; and

         (d)   Other documentation as may be required by the Planning and Zoning Commission.

      (2)   Issuance of sign permits. The Zoning Administrator shall issue a sign permit for any sign for which a complete and accurate sign permit application has been filed when he or she has determined that the sig is in compliance with this and other applicable village ordinances.

      (3)   Denial, revocation, suspension of a sign permit. A sign permit shall be denied if it does not comply with village code. A sign permit shall become void if the sign authorized thereby has not been completely installed within six months of the date the permit was issued.

      (4)   Removal of unsafe, abandoned or unlawful signs.

         (a)   Any sign other than a billboard/off-premises sign as defined in § 22.011 that no longer identifies a business activity, event or service conducted or product, service or entertainment sold on the premises where the sign is located shall be considered abandoned and shall be removed.

         (b)   If upon inspection the Zoning Administrator finds that a sign in abandoned, unsafe or in any way not in compliance with village ordinances, he or she shall issue a written order to the permittee stating the nature of the violation and requiring the repair, replacement or removal of the sign within 14 days of the date of the order.

         (c)   If after 14 days of issuance an order has not been complied with, or if the sign constitutes an immediate hazard to the public safety, the Zoning Administrator may recommend to the President and Board of Trustees that it authorize judicial process to cause the sign to be removed or repaired pursuant to the provisions concerning unsafe buildings of ILCS Ch. 65, Act 5.

         (d)   After any removal of a sign through judicial process, the Zoning Administrator shall send a notice to the sign owner stating the nature of the removal work performed and demanding payment of the cost thereof plus 10% for inspection and administration costs. If said amount is not paid within 30 days of the notice, it shall become a lien against the property of the sign owner.

(Ord. 480B, passed 8-21-1953; Ord. 90-O-036, passed 11-8-1990; Ord. 14-O-36, passed 11-14-2014; Ord. 19-O-20, passed 9-17-2019)

   All exempt and non-exempt signs shall conform to the following standards, except as otherwise provided in this chapter:

   (A)   Location and placement.

      (1)   Within public right-of-way. No sign or associated light fixture shall be located within, project into or overhang a public right-of-way, such as a sign upon a tree or utility pole therein, except as otherwise permitted in this chapter.

      (2)   Obstructions. No sign may obstruct a fire escape, door, window or other entrance or exit way, nor any window surface required for ventilation by any village code.

      (3)   Traffic hazards. No sign may but reason of location or location and size obstruct the vision of drivers or obstruct or detract from the visibility or effectiveness of any traffic signal or control device.

      (4)   Proximity to electric wires. No metal sign shall be located within a vertical distance of eight feet, or a horizontal distance of four feet, of electric wires or conductors, even if such wires or conductors are insulated or otherwise protected.

      (5)   Clearance for metal electrical signs. A minimum sign clearance of one and one-half feet shall be maintained for all metal signs with electrical wiring.

      (6)   Vision clearance. Any sign located within the VISION CLEARANCE TRIANGLE as defined in § 22.011 shall have a minimum sign clearance of eight feet unless the sign height is two and one-half feet or less.

   (B)   Illumination.

      (1)   Bare bulb or flame illumination. Illumination by bare bulbs or flames is prohibited, except that bare bulbs are permitted on changing signs or on theatre marquees.

      (2)   Projecting light fixtures. Gooseneck reflectors or other arms projecting from the sign mounted with lights to illuminate the sign are permitted on freestanding and wall signs.

      (3)   Constant illumination. Sign illumination shall be constant in intensity and color.

      (4)   Non-glaring. The light for any illuminated sign shall be shaded, shielded or directed so as not to cause glare in surrounding properties or in public streets.

      (5)   Traffic hazards. No direct or reflected light from a light source for an illuminated sign shall create a traffic hazard for operators of motor vehicles.

   (C)   Sign design.

      (1)   Resemblance to traffic devices. No sign shall by reason of shape, color, content or use of lighting be similar in appearance to any traffic signal or traffic sign in a way that may interfere with traffic movement or safety.

      (2)   Obscenity. No sign or display shall contain words or pictures of obscene, indecent or immoral character that offend the public morals and decency of the village.

      (3)   Permit number. The sign permit number shall be displayed in a conspicuous place on every non-exempt sign.

   (D)   Construction and maintenance standards.

      (1)   All signs must be designed and constructed in compliance with the building code, electrical code, and all other applicable codes and ordinances. Conductors for all illuminated signs shall be enclosed in rigid conduit or other approved raceways and shall be controlled with an external disconnect. All sign circuit conduit shall be designed as an integral part of the overall sign and must be concealed from public view.

      (2)   Wind pressure and dead load requirements. All non-exempt signs shall be designed and constructed to withstand a wind pressure of not less than 30 pounds per square foot of surface area and to receive dead loads as required in the village buildings and building regulations ordinance or other village ordinances.

      (3)   Structural safety. All non-exempt signs shall be designed and constructed in a safe manner and shall be free of any exposed extra bracing, angle iron, guy wires or cables.

(Ord. 480B, passed 8-21-1953; Ord. 90-O-036, passed 11-8-1990; Ord. 14-O-36, passed 11-14-2014; Ord. 19-O-20, passed 9-17-2019)

      (1)   For daylight hours, the maximum luminance level for a digital billboard should be similar to what the luminance of an identical sign would be if it was printed out and installed on a static billboard. In other words, the digital billboard would appear no brighter, no more intense, than the printed sign next to it, or the landscape surrounding it. In practice, setting a limit of 5000 nits (setting the sign's intensity so that an area on it displaying full-brightness white has no higher luminance than that figure) ends up delivering a surface brightness similar to landscape illuminated by sunlight.

      (2)   At dusk and nighttime, new digital billboards do not need to operate at higher surface brightness, or illuminance, than static billboards. The maximum brightness as dusk and nighttime shall be 250 nits ( l 000 lux) where such digital billboard is located in a well-lit area, and 125 nits (500 lux) where such Digital Billboard is located in a low-light area. Where such billboards are mounted on masts which place the view of the sign from the roadway against a dark sky, such sign shall by default be considered to be located in a low-light area, unless extenuating circumstances apply.

    (D)    Size. The maximum size of any digital billboard shall be 380 square feet.

owner/operator must remedy any violation within three days of notification by the village that a violation exists, unless a longer period is agreed to by the village. The owner/operator shall correct the violation or remove the sign at his or her own expense. Where violations are not corrected within the required time period, the village may proceed to abate the nuisance and lien the property.

      (1)    Tri-Vision or multiple message signs must have a minimum display time of six seconds in a fixed position, and the louver rotation time to change a message shall be one second or less. Additionally, Tri-Vision or multiple message signs must contain a mechanism that will stop the sign in one position if a malfunction occurs.

      (2)   Variable message signs must not display any one message for less than one-half of a second, and no message may be repeated at intervals of less than two seconds. No segmented messages shall be displayed. No traveling message shall travel at a rate slower than 16 light columns per second or faster than 32 columns per second.

erection. For all digital billboard requests, the petitioning party is required to submit a deposit of $2,500 to cover the village's costs in considering placement of the digital billboard, including the village's engineering and attorney consulting fees relative to such consideration and approval. Any portion of the deposit that remains following approval or denial by the Village President and Board of Trustees of the Digital Billboard request shall be returned to the petitioning party. The party petitioning for placement of a digital billboard shall submit to the village for consideration prior to the public hearing a photometric study related to the proposed billboard. Conversion of an existing non-digital billboard to a digital billboard shall be regarded as erection of a new billboard and any previously approved variations or special uses related to the existing non-digital billboard shall not be applicable to the digital billboard. The Village President and Board of Trustees may deny the placement of any digital billboard where they determine that the placement will be detrimental to the village and its residents based on any reason, including, but not limited to, aesthetic reasons, brightness, driver distraction or other safety reasons, and proximity to residential areas.

(Ord. 24-O-20, passed 9-17-2024)