Arlington Heights, IL Sign Regulations: Window Signs (2026)

" The rule reaches any sign installed, painted, printed, affixed, etched or placed against a window or door for viewing from outside, as defined in Section 30-101(54); merchandise displayed in a window is not counted as signage. The Village built in a transition mechanism when it adopted the 40 percent standard: within 45 days of the effective date, the Village notifies any owner whose window signage exceeds the cap, and that owner has one year from the notice to remove the excess signage or bring it into conformance.

Section 30-103(e) also sets design expectations that steer enforcement discretion: high quality graphics that brand the store are encouraged, while low quality paper banners and vinyl stick-on lettering are discouraged, and signs applied to the exterior of the glass are expected to be as thin as a layer of paint or film. The provision was adopted and amended under Ordinance #01-054, #10-001 and #18-045. Applications for any sign requiring a permit elsewhere in the Chapter go to the Director of Building, with Downtown District (B-5) applications routed through the Department of Planning and Community Development, but that step does not apply to a conforming window sign covered by this exemption.