Des Plaines, IL Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)

Following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Reed v. Town of Gilbert (2015), municipal sign codes including Des Plaines's must regulate political signs on a content-neutral basis. Des Plaines's sign code typically allows temporary signs (including political signs) on private residential property without a permit, subject to size limits (often around 6 to 8 square feet per sign in residential zones) and placement requirements that the sign be on private property with the property owner's consent. Signs may not be placed in the public right-of-way (parkways, medians, traffic islands, utility poles, or street rights-of-way) and may not obstruct traffic sight triangles at corners and driveways. Illuminated signs require additional review. There is generally no specific time limit for political signs (post-Reed, durational limits keyed to elections are constitutionally suspect). Signs that are illuminated, animated, or exceed temporary sign size limits may require a permit. Federal preemption applies to certain federal property and rules on federal candidates.