Signs visible from I-90, I-94, I-294, I-55, I-57, I-80, I-88, and I-355 in Cook County are governed by the Illinois Highway Advertising Control Act (225 ILCS 440), administered by IDOT. Counties and municipalities cannot authorize signs that fail state spacing, size, lighting, or zoning standards.
The Illinois Highway Advertising Control Act, enacted to comply with the federal Highway Beautification Act, gives IDOT exclusive permitting authority for off-premises signs visible from interstate and federal-aid primary highways. Cook County hosts hundreds of freeway-facing signs along expressways. Permits require commercial or industrial zoning, a maximum 1,200 square foot face, height of 50 feet above ground or 25 feet above pavement (whichever is greater), and 500-foot spacing in urban areas. New signs in scenic byway segments are prohibited. Local codes can be stricter but never more permissive. On-premises business signs are exempt from HACA permitting.
Erecting an off-premises freeway-facing sign without an IDOT permit, exceeding 1,200 square feet, or violating spacing rules under 225 ILCS 440 triggers IDOT removal orders and civil penalties. Local zoning citations stack with state fines; daily penalties accrue until removal.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Des Plaines, IL
Des Plaines City Code 6-2-7(E) applies its dBA limits to vehicles and equipment on the public right of way (excessive at 65 dBA daytime / 50 dBA quiet hours ...
Des Plaines, IL
Des Plaines City Code 6-2-7(D) makes it unlawful to make or continue any sound determined to be excessive. Outside quiet hours, 6-2-7(E)(5) sets the threshol...
Des Plaines, IL
Des Plaines City Code 6-2-7(F) makes it unlawful to operate any sound-production or amplification device whose sound crosses a property line and raises total...
Des Plaines, IL
Des Plaines City Code Section 7-3-8 prohibits parking on designated streets during declared snow removal operations so that plows can clear the roadway; viol...
Des Plaines, IL
Des Plaines requires fences and the full lot to be properly maintained, including portions of a lot where a fence is not on the property line, and limits fen...
Des Plaines, IL
Des Plaines prohibits barbed-wire and electrically charged fences in residential areas; they are allowed only in nonresidential districts where the Zoning Ad...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Cook County.
See how Des Plaines's freeway-facing signs rules stack up against other locations.
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