Hyde Park, Chicago
Sign Company in Hyde Park, Chicago: Blade Signs, Storefront Signs, and Custom Business Signs
On 53rd Street, a Pedestrian Street, freestanding signs are prohibited, so a ground sign order is refused and your opening slips. SignFreaks checks the zoning 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
Reading a Hyde Park storefront
Hyde Park is a Chicago neighborhood, so custom business signs in Hyde Park follow the city’s zoning ordinance, and 53rd Street adds a Pedestrian Street rule.
- 33%Wall-sign cap, as a share of the building wall
- 0Freestanding signs allowed on a Pedestrian Street
- 9ftClearance for a blade sign over 12 inches out
- 53rd Street
No ground signs on 53rd Street
Kenwood to Lake Park is a Pedestrian Street.
Freestanding and off-premise signs are barred.
- Wall signs
A third of the wall is the cap
Chicago caps a wall sign at 33% of the wall.
A ground-floor tenant is owed at least 32 sq ft.
- Over the sidewalk
Blades need a Council ordinance
A sign out more than 12 in needs 9 ft of clearance.
It sits at least 18 inches back from the curb.
- Landmark properties
Landmarks add a review step
The Commission on Chicago Landmarks reviews them.
One example is the bank at 1525 E 53rd Street.
Sign types
Custom business signs in Hyde Park: blade signs and more
Each sign type runs into a different Hyde Park limit, so the quote starts with the address.
Blade Signs
Hangs over the sidewalk on a Public Way Use permit, with 9 ft of clearance and a curb setback.
Learn more
Channel Letters
Individual letters on the fascia, sized inside the 33% wall cap, with lighting set by the district.
Learn more
Awnings
An awning sign lies flat on the awning, and the code does not allow it to be lit from within.
Learn more
Window Wraps
A temporary paper window sign can cover under 25% of one window’s glass for up to 60 days.
Learn moreSign Boards
A sandwich board stays under 6 sq ft a face and 4 ft high, with one allowed per address.
Learn more
Monument Signs
A ground sign is barred on a Pedestrian Street, so a monument depends on which street you are on.
Learn more
How it works
How a sign project in Hyde Park gets built
Three steps take a project from your address to an installed sign.
Send address and photo
Send the address and a frontage photo, and we tell you which rule on 53rd Street or a landmark applies.
Zoning check and survey
We read the zoning for your block, then measure the frontage on site, free of charge, before any drawing.
Permit, build, install
We file the permit, build the sign in our own shop, and install it with our own crew on site.
The paperwork
What a sign company in Hyde Park has to get approved
Chicago reviews a sign’s zoning first and its construction second, before any sign goes up.
A Department of Buildings permit is required for a sign. The city charges a $200 zoning review fee for an on-premise sign, and a building review fee starts at $50 under 50 square feet. 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, and flags any landmark or Pedestrian Street question before you commit to a design, so nothing gets drawn twice.
Zoning and landmarks
The address is checked against its district, Pedestrian Street status, and landmark status.
Permit application
Drawings of the sign and the wall it mounts on are filed with the Department of Buildings.
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.
Who we serve
Commercial signs by industry in Hyde Park, Chicago
A sign company in Hyde Park plans each business differently. These pages cover what each type needs on top of the zoning code.
Restaurants
Blade signs, awnings, and window graphics for dining rooms along the walking blocks.
Learn moreSchools
Entrance and wayfinding signs for campuses, with room signs built to accessibility rules.
Learn moreCorporate Buildings
Building names and tenant directories for office buildings and shared lobbies.
Learn moreCommercial Businesses
The everyday storefront job: a sign that fits the zoning district and the building face.
Learn more
Proof
Google reviews for our Chicago office
Excerpts from our Chicago office’s Google reviews, quoted as the customers wrote them.
- Storefront package
“SignFreaks are the BEST! I ordered interior logo, outside signage, a blade sign and the window frosting with them.”
Nelli ZakharenkovaGoogle review - Fast turnaround
“Very quick and thorough! Debby was great to work with fast, and the sign was delivered with really great quality.”
Laura RoeGoogle 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 Hyde Park 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 zoning district and any landmark or Pedestrian Street rules. All three offices, with directions, are on the contact page.
Get a permit-ready quote for Hyde Park
A sign company in Hyde Park should quote against the zoning that governs your address. Send the address, a frontage photo, and your opening date, and SignFreaks will come back with what that zoning allows and a written quote for custom business signs in Hyde Park.
Nearby
Neighborhoods next to Hyde Park
Chicago neighborhoods share one zoning ordinance, but each block has its own district. A sign company in Hyde Park checks the landmark and Pedestrian Street status of every address separately.
Questions
Sign questions from Hyde Park businesses
Call (872) 250-4743, Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Sign questions from Hyde Park businesses
What does a sign company in Hyde Park do?
Where can I get a blade sign made in Hyde Park, Chicago?
You can get a blade sign made in Hyde Park from a sign company in Hyde Park that also files the Public Way Use permit and does the installation. We build blade signs in our own shop and hang them with our own crew.
Do I need a permit for a business sign in Hyde Park?
Yes, you need a permit for a business sign in Hyde Park. The Department of Buildings issues it after a zoning review, and the city charges a $200 zoning review fee for an on-premise sign. We file the sign permits for you.
How much does a storefront sign cost in Hyde Park?
A storefront sign in Hyde Park costs what its size, materials, lighting, mounting, and permit path add up to, and the address changes several of those. SignFreaks does not quote a number without a survey, so a free survey produces a written quote for channel letters or any other type.
What are the three main types of signage for a Hyde Park business?
The three main types of signage for a Hyde Park business are wall signs, projecting signs, and freestanding signs. Wall signs include channel letters, projecting signs include blade signs, and freestanding signs include monument signs.
Are freestanding signs allowed on 53rd Street in Hyde Park?
Freestanding signs are not allowed on 53rd Street in Hyde Park, because the street is a Pedestrian Street from Kenwood to Lake Park. The zoning ordinance prohibits freestanding and off-premise signs there, so a channel letters sign on the wall or a blade sign is the usual alternative.
Do landmark buildings in Hyde Park need extra review for signs?
Landmark buildings in Hyde Park can need extra review for signs. City permits for a designated property go through the Commission on Chicago Landmarks’ review, as with the former Hyde Park-Kenwood National Bank at 1525 E 53rd Street. We confirm the status first and file the sign permits for you.
Where can I legally put a business sign in Hyde Park?
You can legally put a business sign on your own wall within the 33% cap, on an awning, in a window, or over the sidewalk with a Public Way Use permit. A window wrap and an awning each have their own limits.
Where can I get a vinyl banner made in Hyde Park?
You can get a vinyl banner made in Hyde Park from a sign company that prints it and hangs it too. Zoning and the sign permits for a temporary banner depend on the block, the size, and how long it stays up. See vinyl banners.