Kendall County, IL Sign Regulations: Window Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Max coverage
- 35% of window surface per face
- Floor limit
- first floor windows only
- Placement
- affixed to interior glass only
- Permit needed
- no, exempt sign category
- Removal authority
- Zoning Administrator, safety hazard
Summary
Kendall County exempts window signs from permits but caps them at 35 percent of the window surface per building face, bars them above the first floor, and lets the Zoning Administrator order removal of any that block visibility and create a safety hazard.
Window signs. Window signs shall be affixed only to the interior surface of the glass and shall not be located on any windows above the first floor of the building. Such signs shall not exceed thirty-five (35) percent of the window surface area for each building face. Signs shall not be affixed in such a manner that a safety hazard to customers or staff of the establishment is created by the obstruction of vision. The Zoning Administrator or designee shall be empowered to require the removal or relocation of any such sign deemed to be a safety hazard.
Full Breakdown
Section 36-1051(12) sets the standard: "Window signs shall be affixed only to the interior surface of the glass and shall not be located on any windows above the first floor of the building. " That means a business can run a compliant window sign in addition to its wall sign and freestanding sign without eating into that separate two-sign cap, so long as it stays inside the glass, off any floor above the first, and under 35 percent coverage per building face. The 35 percent ceiling is calculated per building face rather than per individual window, so multiple window signs on the same storefront face are measured together against that single limit.
As with other exempt signs, losing compliance, whether by exceeding the coverage limit, moving to an upper floor, or creating a documented sightline hazard, pulls the sign out of the exemption and into the standard permit and enforcement track under Chapter 36 Article VI and Article II.
Violations & Fines
A window sign covering more than 35 percent of a building face's window surface, placed above the first floor, or creating a documented sightline safety hazard violates § 36-1051(12); the Zoning Administrator may order removal or relocation, with further noncompliance handled under the Chapter 36 Article II violation procedures.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much of my storefront window can I cover with a sign in Kendall County?
Can I put a window sign on the second floor of my building?
Do window signs count toward the two-sign limit for businesses?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kendall County
Compare Kendall County to another location·View the Illinois sign regulations overview
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