Fulton Market, Chicago
Sign Company in Fulton Market, Chicago: Blade Signs, Storefront Signs, and Landmark District Approvals
District guidelines prohibit rooftop signs and vinyl awnings, so a Fulton Market sign ordered before the landmark check gets sent back. SignFreaks checks first, then permits, builds, and installs.
Nearest office: Chicago — by appointment only
- 25+ years of team experience
- City approvals handled for you
- Own shop, own crew, own lift
- Free survey and written quote
Local context
What the Fulton Market sign guidelines mean for your storefront
Fulton Market is former meatpacking brick turned restaurants and offices, and its landmark district treats the building’s history as part of every sign.
- 33%Wall-sign cap, as a share of the building wall
- 800sq ftCeiling on total sign area in downtown zoning
- 0Rooftop signs allowed in the landmark district
- Landmark district
Landmarks reviews exterior work
Anything visible from the street is reviewed.
Anchors go into mortar joints, not the brick.
- Prohibited
No rooftop or flashing signs
Wall billboards and moving signs are out too.
Historic painted wall signs stay when possible.
- Awnings
Woven fabric, valance lettering
Plastic and vinyl awnings are not accepted.
No internal lighting is allowed on an awning.
- Outside the district
Zoning rules apply to the rest
A wall sign stays within 33% of the wall.
Downtown total area is capped at 800 sq ft.
The paperwork
Landmark review and permits for a Fulton Market sign
Chicago reviews zoning first, then construction, and landmark review runs through the same permit.
A Department of Buildings permit is required for a sign. The city charges a $200 zoning review fee for an on-premise sign, and the building review fee runs from $50 to $1,000 by sign area. A sign over 100 square feet, or over 24 feet above the ground, needs a City Council Order.
SignFreaks handles the sign permits from application through inspection. Landmark staff prefer to be consulted before a permit application is filed, so we confirm the design with them first.
Landmark and zoning
The address is checked for landmark district, zoning district, and any planned development.
Mortar-joint drawings
Drawings show how the sign mounts at mortar joints, with wiring and raceways kept hidden.
Public Way Use permit
A City Council ordinance covers any sign that projects over the sidewalk, such as a blade.
Public way insurance
Liability insurance for the public way stays on file, and it is resubmitted every year.
Sign types
Custom business signs in Fulton Market: blade signs, storefront signs, and awnings
A sign company in Fulton Market builds each type below, and each type meets a different guideline, so the quote starts with the building.
Blade Signs
Blade signs are permitted, with 9 ft of clearance over 12 in out and 18 in off the curb.
Learn more
Channel Letters
Halo-lit reverse-channel letters may be acceptable, while rooftop and wall billboards are not.
Learn more
Awnings
Woven fabric only, lettering on the valance only, and no internal lighting on awnings.
Learn more
Window Wraps
Decals and vinyl on 25% or less of a window need no permit, and storefront lettering is welcome.
Learn more
Lightbox Signs
An opaque background with routed lettering may be appropriate, and flashing lights are prohibited.
Learn moreSign Boards
Sidewalk signs run 6 sq ft and 4 ft high, at $100 a year, where the block is eligible.
Learn more
How it works
How a Fulton Market sign gets through landmark review
Three steps take a project from your address to an approved, installed sign.
Landmark status check
Send the address, and we find out if it sits in the landmark district before any drawing is started.
Survey and staff consult
We survey the frontage free of charge, then talk the design through with landmark staff when it applies.
File, build, and install
We file the permit, build in our own shop, and install with our own crew, mounting into mortar joints.
Who we serve
Commercial signs by industry in Fulton Market, Chicago
A sign company in Fulton Market plans each business differently. These pages cover what each type needs on top of the zoning and landmark rules.
Restaurants
Dining rooms use blade signs, valance lettering, and window graphics, never a rooftop sign.
Learn moreCorporate Buildings
Office buildings: the tenant’s sign and lobby wayfinding, built to the building’s rules.
Learn moreCommercial Businesses
Showrooms and studios: a storefront sign that suits the brick and the district.
Learn more
Proof
Google reviews for our Chicago office
Excerpts from our Chicago office’s Google reviews, quoted as the customers wrote them.
- Storefront sign and banners
“I’m so glad I chose Sign Freaks to create my storefront sign and banners, the customer service was amazing[.]”
Joselyn PizarroGoogle review - Illuminated banner installation
“We’re extremely pleased with the final result and grateful for their attention to detail throughout the process.”
Nicholas LippaGoogle review - Custom signage
“Sign Freaks did a great job helping bring my vision to life. They responded quickly to my requests[.]”
Jennifer VillamilGoogle review
Meet us
Your nearest office is Chicago
Three sales offices, all by appointment, so the right person is there when you arrive.
Choosing a sign company in Fulton Market usually starts with a conversation, and the Chicago office is the closest SignFreaks office. Visits are for going through a design in detail, and most quotes start with a frontage photo and a phone call.
Bring your lease and the address, so we can check its landmark and zoning status. All three offices, with directions, are on the contact page.
Get a landmark-checked quote for Fulton Market
A sign company in Fulton Market should quote against the zoning and landmark rules that govern your address. Send the address, a frontage photo, and your opening date, and SignFreaks will come back with what they allow and the written quote for custom business signs in Fulton Market.
Nearby
Neighborhoods next to Fulton Market
Chicago neighborhoods share one zoning ordinance, but each block has its own zoning district, and some carry landmark rules. A sign company in Fulton Market checks every address separately.
Questions
Sign questions from Fulton Market businesses
Call (872) 250-4743, Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Sign questions from Fulton Market businesses
What does a sign company in Fulton Market do?
A sign company like SignFreaks designs, permits, builds, and installs custom business signs in Fulton Market, and handles repair or removal later. The first job is working out which zoning and landmark rules apply to your address. We survey the frontage, draw to those limits, file the permit, then fabricate and install.
Where can I get a custom business sign made in Fulton Market, Chicago?
You can get a custom business sign made in Fulton Market from a sign company in Fulton Market that handles the permit and installation along with the fabrication. Buying the sign alone leaves the city permits and the installation to you.
Do I need a permit for a business sign in Fulton Market?
Yes, you need a permit for a business sign in Fulton Market. The Department of Buildings issues it after a zoning review, and the city charges $200 for that review on an on-premise sign. SignFreaks files the sign permits.
What are the Fulton Market sign guidelines?
The Fulton Market sign guidelines come from the Fulton-Randolph Market District rules, reviewed by the Commission on Chicago Landmarks. They prohibit rooftop signs, wall billboards, and flashing or moving signs, and they call for signs that fit the building. We confirm the address and handle the permit.
Can a Fulton Market business hang a blade sign?
A Fulton Market business can hang a blade sign, since hanging and blade signs are permitted in the district. A sign that projects more than 12 inches needs 9 feet of clearance and sits 18 inches back from the curb, with a Public Way Use permit. See blade signs.
What awnings are allowed in Fulton Market?
Awnings in Fulton Market must be woven fabric, with lettering on the valance only and no internal lighting. Plastic and vinyl awnings are not accepted in the district. We build and install awnings to those guidelines.
How much does a storefront sign cost in Fulton Market?
A storefront sign in Fulton Market costs what its size, materials, lighting, mounting, and review path add up to, and a landmark address changes several of those. We do not quote a number without the address, because it would be a guess. A free survey produces a written quote for channel letters.
Can I keep or restore an old painted sign in Fulton Market?
You can often keep or restore an old painted sign in Fulton Market, because the guidelines retain historic painted wall signs when possible. The first step is confirming the building’s status with landmark staff. We handle sign repair and the permits for the work.
How big can a wall sign be in Fulton Market?
A wall sign in Fulton Market can cover up to 33% of the building wall, and total sign area in the downtown districts is capped at 5 times the street frontage or 800 square feet, whichever is less. A sign over 100 square feet needs a City Council Order. See corporate buildings.