Naperville sign permit requirements

Permit required to erect or display any sign unless exempted; exempt signs include directional signs up to 6 sq ft, sidewalk signs, window signs, pedestrian wall signs, and certain temporary signs listed in Sec. 6-16-5:1.

“Unless exempted from the requirements of this Chapter, no person shall erect or display any sign unless issued a permit.”

1.5 sq ft per linear foot of facade for facades with street frontage or adjacent parking with customer access

“wall, awning, and canopy signage (in any combination) shall be permitted up to a maximum sign area of one and one-half (1.5) square feet for each linear foot of facade.”

Monument ground sign: 45 sq ft where posted speed 40 mph or less; 90 sq ft at 45-50 mph; 120 sq ft at 55 mph or greater

10 feet from grade, may be increased an additional 2 feet for architectural features on monument signs

“Ten feet (10), as measured from grade, and may be increased an additional two (2) feet for architectural features for monument signs.”

10 ft from front property line when fronting a major arterial; 5 ft from front property line for other road classifications; 40 ft from an interior property line

“2.2.5.1 When fronting a major arterial: Ten (10) feet from the front property line.”

Blade (projecting) sign: 8 sq ft per side

“Sign Area: Eight (8) square feet per side.”

Minimum 8 ft clearance from bottom of sign to sidewalk; may extend a maximum of 6 ft from the building facade

“A minimum clearance of eight (8) feet measured from the bottom of the sign to the sidewalk above which the sign extends, and shall extend from the building facade a maximum of six (6) feet.”

Max 75% of a single window pane and no more than 50% of the total window surface area per storefront elevation

“Window Signs: Shall occupy a maximum of seventy-five (75) percent of a single window pane and no more than fifty (50) percent of the total window surface area per storefront elevation.”

Internal, external, and bare bulb illumination permitted; steady/stationary shielded light only; no more than 30 foot-candles measured 4 ft from the sign; only letters/logos may be internally illuminated, all other portions opaque

“Illuminated signs shall produce no more than thirty (30) foot-candles of illumination, four (4) feet from the sign.”

Changeable signage allowed on ground signs, not to exceed 50% of permitted sign area; must change no more than once every 10 seconds and contain only static displays (variance required for more frequent changes). Prohibited in the Downtown Central Business District.

“Changeable signage cannot exceed fifty percent (50%) of the permitted maximum sign area of a ground sign. The sign shall change no more than once every ten (10) seconds and shall only contain static displays.”

Permit required; no more than four (4) one-week (seven-day) periods per calendar year; max 32 sq ft per sign; ground-mounted max 10 ft height (inflatables 25 ft)

“Time Period: No more than four (4) one-week (seven-day) periods during any calendar year. A temporary sign displayed for less than seven (7) days constitutes a one-week period.”

Prohibited: portable signs (except sidewalk signs), outdoor advertising signs (billboards), flashing signs, rotating/moving/animated signs and attention devices (searchlights, spinners, streamers, balloons), off-premise commercial signs, pole signs (except tollway corridor), roof signs (temporary), and in the Downtown CBD: changeable-copy/electronic message boards and ground signs

“Outdoor Advertising Sign. 5. Flashing signs.”

Values are for general commercial/non-residential uses; signage allowances are based on actual land use, not zoning classification. Special additional rules apply in Areas of Special Control (B4/B5 Downtown CBD, TU Transitional Use, tollway corridor, educational campus).

“Signage allowances are based on actual land use, not zoning classifications. Commercial signage may only be displayed upon the property to which the commercial sign pertains.”