Kankakee County, IL Home Business: Signage Rules (2026)

Section 121-293(a)(10) sets the only signage a home occupation may display, scaled to the size of the parcel. On a parcel of one acre or less, the code allows no sign at all beyond a single permitted name plate, and that name plate cannot exceed two square feet and must be attached directly to the principal structure; a freestanding sign is not an option on a lot that small. On a parcel larger than one acre, the operator may instead erect one freestanding sign in the front yard, up to 12 square feet in area and no more than six feet tall.

That freestanding sign must be set back at least ten feet from the road right-of-way and must still respect the corner sight-triangle requirements found elsewhere in this article. Whichever sign type applies, the code flatly bars illumination, flashing lights, electronic displays and any moving parts, so a lit or animated sign is never permitted for a home occupation regardless of lot size. Because these limits sit inside the same section that caps a home occupation's floor area and bars outdoor storage, a sign that violates the size or lighting rule can put the entire home-based business out of compliance with its accessory-use permission, not just the sign itself.