Home business signage in unincorporated Cook County is restricted under the Zoning Ordinance. Home occupations must remain incidental to residential use, which limits or prohibits commercial signage. Sign permits required through Building and Zoning.
The Cook County Zoning Ordinance requires that home occupations remain clearly incidental and secondary to residential use, which effectively limits commercial signage at residential properties. Signs for home businesses in residential zones must comply with the Cook County sign regulations. Chapter 114 (Billboard and Off-Premises Outdoor Advertising Signs) and the zoning ordinance sign provisions govern sign placement, size, and illumination. Sign permits are required from the Department of Building and Zoning. The sign permit requirements document specifies application procedures, dimensions, and approved sign types. Home occupation signs in residential areas are typically limited to small identification signs that do not alter the residential character of the property.
Unpermitted sign: building and zoning violation, $100–$1,000 fine. Oversized commercial sign in residential area: removal order.
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