Chicago, IL Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)

Chicago's Zoning Ordinance has no separate political-sign category. Instead, Sec. 17-12-0300 lets any sign allowed under the chapter carry a lawful noncommercial message, including a campaign or election message, as long as it meets the size, height and other requirements set for that sign type. In practice that routes political yard and window signs through Sec. 17-12-0804's temporary-sign standards: one temporary freestanding or wall sign per street frontage, capped at 18"x18" (or 4 ft tall) on single-family and two-flat lots in RS1-RS3 districts, larger limits scaled to frontage in denser residential and business districts, and a one-year cap on how long a temporary sign in a B, C, M, DC, DX or DS district may stay up. There's no city-specific removal deadline tied to election day, a political sign is treated like any other temporary sign for as long as it meets those limits.