Custom Signs
Sign Boards Chicago for Storefronts and Wayfinding
A sign board hung without checking the wall, the lighting, or the permit gets taken down and remounted. SignFreaks surveys the site, builds the board in its own shop, files the permit, and installs it with its own crew, so it goes up approved.
- Aluminum composite, steel, and acrylic
- Flat-mount or projecting boards
- Optional gooseneck lighting
- Design, permit, build, install
- Own shop, own crew, own lift
- Flat or projecting sign boards
- One company, fully accountable
The brief
What stands between a Chicago business and a sign board that works
What customers tell us before a board is built, and what we do about it.
What usually goes wrong
- A board fixed to the wrong wall material works loose or damages the facade.
- A flat board on a busy street goes unseen once the sun goes down for the day.
- Directional boards are placed by guess, and visitors still ask for the way.
- A board goes up before its permit, and one over the sidewalk needs more approvals.
How SignFreaks handles it
- Mounted for the wall. We check the surface, then choose brackets and hardware that carry the board.
- Lit when needed. LED sign lights, gooseneck lights, and angled shade lights wash the face after dark.
- Placed by route. We put a board at each decision point, so the way is clear from the street.
- Permits first. We check how far a board reaches and file before we build, so it hangs approved.
What you get
What goes into a sign board in Chicago
SignFreaks builds every sign board from six choices, listed here with what each one does.
Panel material
Aluminum composite, stainless steel, corten steel, weatherproof acrylic, PVC, or wood.
Thickness and depth
Panels run from 3 mm to 6 mm, and a 1 inch frame adds depth and weight to the board.
Printing
High-resolution UV printing with lamination keeps the color and the finish even.
Lighting
LED outdoor sign lights, gooseneck lights, and angled shade lights light the face.
Mounting
Flat-mount or projecting boards go up on strengthened brackets and sturdy hardware.
Changeable panels
Swappable panels let the message change later without replacing the whole board.
How it works
How a sign board in Chicago moves through six steps
The board is planned around the site, so the first of six steps is an assessment of the placement.
Site assessment
We check the wall, the sightlines, and the foot and vehicle traffic to place the board.
Custom design
We set the size, the material, and the lettering to suit your brand and your street.
Fabrication
The board is built in our own shop from the material, the thickness, and the finish chosen.
Permits
We prepare the drawings and file the application with the city’s Department of Buildings.
Installation
Our crew mounts the board on strengthened brackets, with the lighting connected if it has any.
Updates and care
We swap the panels, repair the board, or take it down when your business changes or moves.
Context
Where Chicago’s rules touch sign boards
Chicago sets the numbers for boards that project over the sidewalk, and the ADA sets the rules for the ones inside.
- 9ftSidewalk clearance for a board projecting more than 12 inches
- 18inClosest a projecting board may sit to the curb line
- $200Zoning review fee for an on-premise sign in Chicago
- Flat-mount
Flush to the wall
A flat board sits on the fascia, a wall, or a post.
It can carry a name, a number, or an arrow.
- Projecting
Reach over the sidewalk
A board over the sidewalk needs a Public Way Use permit.
It also needs a City Council ordinance.
- Directional
Visual rules only
Directional signs follow visual rules, not tactile ones.
They need strong contrast between text and background.
- Room signs
Tactile rules apply
Permanent room signs need raised characters and Grade 2 braille.
We build those as acrylic signs, 48 to 60 inches high.
Pairs well with
One Chicago shop for every sign type
A board often shares a building with other signs, and SignFreaks builds all of them in one shop.
Acrylic Signs
Room signs with raised characters, braille, and a non-glare finish for interiors.
Learn moreBlade Signs
A projecting sign that catches foot traffic on a busy block from either direction.
Learn moreChannel Letters
Individual lit letters on the fascia, front-lit or halo-lit, for a storefront.
Learn more
Approvals
What sign boards in Chicago have to get approved
A board answers to the building owner first, and to the city before it is hung.
Most exterior sign boards need a Department of Buildings permit, and only a licensed sign contractor can file it. A board that projects over a sidewalk, parkway, street, or alley also needs a Public Way Use permit and a City Council ordinance, so we check the reach before anything is drawn. A landlord or building manager often approves the design first.
SignFreaks prepares the drawings and handles the sign permits, then builds the board and completes the sign installation, so the approvals and the build stay with one company.
Landlord approval
A landlord or building manager often reviews the size, the place, and the lighting.
Building permit
The Department of Buildings reviews the drawings, filed by a licensed contractor.
Public Way Use permit
A board over the sidewalk needs one, plus a City Council ordinance before it goes up.
Zoning review
Chicago reviews size, lighting, and placement, and charges $200 for an on-premise sign.
Proof
Google reviews for our Chicago office
Excerpts from our Chicago office’s Google reviews, quoted as the customers wrote them.
- Exterior and interior signage
“Great experience with SignFreaks. They helped us with exterior and interior signage for our startup business.”
Noel AbatGoogle review - Attention to detail
“We’re extremely pleased with the final result and grateful for their attention to detail throughout the process.”
Nicholas LippaGoogle review - Service and support
“Professional and always available to answer any questions when you call. Great management and staff all the way around.”
julie hillGoogle review
Who uses it
Sign boards for Chicago businesses, by building
Each building uses a board to guide a different crowd, so the size, the lighting, and the mounting change with the job.
Government Buildings
Wayfinding boards for public buildings and offices, with the approvals checked.
Learn more
Our work
Sign board projects we have built in Chicago
Sign boards for Chicago businesses, photographed on site.
Sign board — NXT Power 
Sign board — Pick Me Up 
Sign board — Truefitt & Hill 
Sign board — Play It Again Sports 
Custom sign boards, Chicago
Budget
What moves the price of sign boards in Chicago
Size and material come first.
We do not publish price lists, because a number without your size, site, and deadline attached would be fiction. Give us those three and you get a real written quote.
- Board size, which sets the material, the framing, and the weight on the wall.
- Material and thickness, from 3 mm to 6 mm panels, plus an optional frame for depth.
- Lighting, since outdoor LED lights, gooseneck lights, and power runs add cost.
- Mounting, including brackets, projecting hardware, and access for the crew.
- Design work, when the artwork has to be built or reworked before printing.
- City permit fees and drawings, listed on their own line, with the public way approval.
Get a real quote for sign boards in Chicago
Send a photo of the wall, the size, and your deadline. SignFreaks returns a written quote that covers the board, the permit, and the installation, with a line item for every cost.
Coverage
Where we install sign boards in Chicago and beyond
SignFreaks is a sign company in Chicago with three by-appointment offices, serving the city and the suburbs around it. Every village writes its own sign code, so the code check comes before the design.
Questions
Sign board questions, answered
Call (872) 250-4743, Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Questions we get asked
What are the best types of sign boards for Chicago businesses?
The best sign boards for Chicago businesses are flat-mount or projecting boards in aluminum composite, steel, or weatherproof acrylic, picked for the wall and the weather. A projecting board adds visibility on a walkable block, and a blade sign is a close alternative.
What is a sign board used for?
It names a business, points the way, or marks an entrance, and it is a budget-friendly choice for walls, posts, and the fascia. Where the sign must be lit from within, a lightbox sign is the better fit, and for letters on the building see channel letters.
Do I need a permit for a business sign board in Chicago?
A sign board in Chicago needs a permit for most permanent exterior installations, and one hung before its permit is issued can be cited. A board over a sidewalk also needs a Public Way Use permit, and SignFreaks files the sign permits for you.
Can a sign board be lit?
It can be lit with LED outdoor sign lights, gooseneck lights, or angled shade lights, which wash the face from outside. SignFreaks connects the lighting during sign installation, and the lighting is quoted with the board.
What materials are available for sign boards?
SignFreaks builds sign boards in aluminum composite, stainless steel, corten steel, weatherproof acrylic, PVC, and wood, with panels from 3 mm to 6 mm. The material follows the wall and the look, and room signs inside are built as acrylic signs.
How much does a sign board cost in Chicago?
A sign board in Chicago costs what its size, material, lighting, mounting, and permit work add up to, so the number comes from a written quote. Send a photo of the wall, and we return a quote with a line item for every cost, including the sign permits.
Can sign boards meet ADA rules for directional signs?
Sign boards can meet ADA rules for directional signs, because directional and informational signs follow visual rules only, with strong contrast between text and background. Permanent room signs follow tactile rules, with raised characters and Grade 2 braille, and we build those as acrylic signs.
Can you change the message on a sign board later?
We can change the message on a sign board later, because changeable panels let the board stay while the message changes. When a board is damaged or worn, sign repair restores it, and an old board comes down through sign removal.
How is SignFreaks different from other sign board companies in Chicago?
SignFreaks designs, permits, builds, and installs the board itself, using its own shop, its own crew, and its own lift. That means one team answers for the fit, the lighting, the sign permits, and the installation.