Arlington Heights, IL Home Business: Signage Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Allowed sign
- Nameplate, one square foot maximum
- Other signage
- No other signs or exterior displays
- Governing section
- Zoning Code § 6.16-1(b)
- Applies separately from
- Chapter 30 general Sign Code
Summary
A home occupation in Arlington Heights, Illinois can post only one sign: a nameplate of one square foot or less. Section 6.16-1(b) of the Zoning Code bars any other sign or display that would show from outside that the dwelling is used for anything besides a residence.
There is used no sign other than a nameplate not more than one square foot in area or no display that will indicate from the exterior that the building is being utilized in part for any purpose other than that of a dwelling unit.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 3 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
" That single small nameplate is the entire signage allowance; the Code does not carve out window signs, yard signs, or temporary advertising for a home business. " This sits apart from Chapter 30, the Village's general Sign Code, which governs commercial and freestanding signs at business locations; a home occupation's signage is capped by the zoning home occupation rule instead, at a fraction of what a standalone business sign could carry. An application for a home occupation, including any planned nameplate, is filed with the Director of Planning and Community Development.
Violations & Fines
Posting a sign larger than one square foot, or any additional exterior signage or display, for a home occupation is a violation of Section 6.16-1(b) that the Director of Planning and Community Development can require be removed. A sign that makes the residence look like a place of business from the street can also support a finding that the use no longer qualifies as a home occupation under subsection (e).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a sign in my yard for my Arlington Heights home business?
How big can a home business nameplate be in Arlington Heights?
Does the Village's regular Sign Code apply to home businesses?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Arlington Heights
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