Schaumburg, IL Sign Regulations: Window Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Standard window coverage cap
- 50% of window area
- Illuminated/interior display cap
- 25% within 12 inches of glass
- Measurement basis
- Calculated per individual window
- Door signage
- Coverage includes area above the door
- Video gaming signs
- 1 window sign, max 4 sq ft
Summary
Schaumburg caps window signs at 50% coverage of each window under Village Code § 155.50(N). Illuminated signs or lit interior displays within 12 inches of the glass are capped tighter, at just 25% coverage.
(N)Window Signs: Window signs which cover more than fifty percent (50%) of a window, or interior displays which are within twelve inches (12") of a window shall not be permitted as either a temporary or permanent sign. Illuminated window signs or illuminated interior displays within twelve inches (12") of a window shall not cover more than twenty-five percent (25%) of a window. The percentage of window sign coverage shall be calculated individually for each window area. This calculation shall include the entire area within the window frame of each window glass, including mullions, of a single window unit, set between structural materials. The window coverage for doors shall also include the area above the door. All window signage including illuminated and non-illuminated shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) coverage.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 56 Update 1 | Policy Manual: Supplement 20).
Full Breakdown
50(N) of the Village Code treats window signs as a prohibited-signs category subject to hard coverage caps rather than an outright ban. A non-illuminated window sign or interior display more than 12 inches from the glass may cover up to half of a window's area. Anything illuminated, or any interior display sitting within 12 inches of the window, drops to a 25% coverage ceiling. The code is specific about how the percentage is measured: coverage is calculated window by window rather than as a storefront average, and the calculation includes the full area within the window frame, including any mullions dividing a single window unit between structural supports.
For entry doors, the code adds the area above the door into the coverage calculation. Across all categories, illuminated and non-illuminated window signage combined cannot exceed 50% of any individual window. 50(O) separately bans window trimming and lighting, rope lighting, neon, series lighting or any lighting pattern not directly tied to communicating the business name, with a compliance deadline of May 1, 2017 for anything installed before the rule took effect. 50(P) limits any sign advertising video gaming to a single window sign no larger than 4 square feet, on top of complying with every other provision of chapter 155.
Violations & Fines
Violations are enforced by the director of community development, who can order removal of a nonconforming sign within 10 days of written notice under § 155.155, with the village authorized to remove it at the owner's expense if the deadline passes. General penalties under § 10.99 apply where no specific fine is set: $100 to $50,000 per offense, with each day counted separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much of a storefront window can a sign cover in Schaumburg?
Are lit window signs treated differently?
Can a business advertise video gaming in its window?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Schaumburg
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