When is a Sign Permit Necessary?

Outdoor business signs play a vital role in attracting customers and communicating a brand's message, but businesses must navigate local zoning laws and permit requirements before the installation. It is important to understand when sign permits are needed, such as for large, electrical, or off-premises signs, as well as the steps to obtain the necessary permits. Divine Signs and Graphics assists Chicago-area businesses in designing, producing, and installing compliant, eye-catching signage.

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Outdoor signs inform the community about a business’s product offerings or services. While visible signs attract customers, companies should be aware of any permit requirements. Zoning laws may require businesses to obtain a permit prior to installing a sign. In this guide, we discuss when a sign permit is necessary.

Custom business signs are ideal for drawing customers into a retail store. Colorful, creatively designed and eye-catching, they are important tools in a business’s advertising toolbox. However, the outdoor signs must complement the neighborhood, and signage permits ensure this occurs.

Zoning laws come into play when businesses erect new outdoor signs or replacement signs. Businesses must receive permission from the local government by filling out an application with information the local zoning officer reviews. The officer then approves or denies the signage.

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Why is a sign permit necessary?

Governments mandate sign permits for quality control. Proposed exterior signs must be aesthetically pleasing rather than visually unattractive. Signs are usually a reflection of the zone in which they are installed. Plus, the signs must not contain offensive language or images.

Zoning laws may require that outdoor business signs conform to a certain height and width standard. A company cannot erect a huge sign and monopolize the space to gain an advantage over other area businesses. The signs must integrate seamlessly into the surrounding community.

Safety reasons are behind the reason companies need to obtain a sign permit, too. For example, signs that perilously protrude onto an exit road or are otherwise incorrectly placed hinder drivers and pose as a safety risk. Drivers need to see oncoming traffic and signs should not interfere.

Electrical signs also require permits. Due to their vivid colors and moving graphics, electrical signs can be distracting to drivers. Plus, area residents may find electrical signs to be a nuisance. A sign permit ensures that the electrical signs are not excessively bright or distracting.

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When do companies need a sign permit in Chicago?

The City of Chicago, for example, mandates that businesses obtain sign permits from the Department of Buildings in certain instances. The city’s sign permit requirements vary, depending on whether the proposed business sign is an on-premise sign or an off-premise sign.

On-premise signs are those that are positioned on the business’s physical premises. The signs direct the attention of customers to the store or office where the products or services are located. A realtor sign, for instance, leads visitors to a realtor’s office building.

Off-premise signs assume the form of billboards or advertising signs that are not located where the business’s goods or services are offered. For example, an off-premise sign may be positioned on a highway several miles away from where the actual services or goods are sold.

Chicago requires a sign permit for off-premise signs. However, on-premise signs come with several limited exceptions. Temporary paper, fabric, or vinyl signs that are smaller than 25 percent of the window and attached to the window for less than 60 days are usually exempt.

Exceptions also include signs that are painted onto the window for any duration and that take up less than 25 percent of the window’s glazing area. Lettering painted onto the window glass and with a height of no more than two inches are not counted toward the 25 percent.

The City of Chicago does not require a sign permit for incidental signs. These include address signs, entrance and exit signs, and restroom signs. Hours of operation and open/closed signs can also be installed without a permit; however, they should not contain the business’s name or logo.

Other signs that do not require a permit are public notice signs and warning signs mandated by federal, state, or municipal law. No smoking signs, no firearm signs, and high voltage signs fall into this category. Consumer rights notice signs likewise do not require a sign permit.

How do businesses obtain a sign permit?

Firstly, it’s important to learn the local zoning laws. Every road is zoned differently from one end to the other. As a result, a competing business down the street may be under different zoning laws. Rely on a professional sign company to understand what is permissible.

Obtain the permit prior to creating the sign. In Chicago, the process to obtain a permit begins online. Pay the zoning review fee and complete the paper supplemental permit application. Submit these materials along with an image of the proposed sign and its location as well as architectural documents.

The approval process may take 2 to 3 weeks, depending on how busy the permit office is upon applying. Sign production takes several more weeks to complete. By working with an experienced sign company knowledgeable about permits, the process is streamlined.

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Outdoor Business Signs from Divine Signs

Divine Signs and Graphics is positioned to give businesses the edge. We produce stunning outdoor signs that capture the attention of passersby and ensure your brand messaging is clear. Our sign experts are aware of the requirements surrounding sign permits and can help you navigate the process.

Our outdoor signs range from plaza signs to ground signs and parking lot signs. We also create attractive wall signs and entrance signs. No matter what type of sign you envision, our skilled designers listen to your ideas and turn them into a striking and functional work of art.

Your business’s logo, fonts, and colors are incorporated into the outdoor sign so that customers immediately recognize your brand. Not only do we design clean and crisp outdoor business signs but our installation team installs them professionally and securely, ensuring they endure.

Divine Signs and Graphics is a business’s one-stop sign company. We handle the entire process, involving you in every step and producing signs that clearly and beautifully convey your brand message. Design options are unlimited, giving you immense flexibility in the creative process.

Whether you plan to update a parking lot sign or simply want a new custom business sign, Divine Signs and Graphics can help. We serve Schaumburg, Illinois, businesses. Call our office today to speak to a sign design team member and initiate the exciting build of your next business sign.

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