Type 1 – Standard Channel Letter Front Lit
Bright lit letters for long winter evenings.
Starting at $13 $11.70 Per Inch
State guide
Channel Letters and Storefront Signs Shipped to Illinois
Illinois businesses can price custom LED channel letters online, then have them built in Washington and California and shipped ready for a licensed local installer.
- Electrician licensingLocal (city or village); no statewide license
- Chicago sign permitDepartment of Buildings; always for electric signs
- Large Chicago signsCity Council order over 100 sq ft or 24 ft high
- Over the sidewalkChicago Public Way Use Permit
How it works
Ordering a Storefront Sign for Illinois
Like New York, Illinois leaves electrician licensing to local governments rather than the state, so the license your installer needs depends on the town where your storefront is. Chicago runs its own licensing and its own sign permits, and in Chicago every electric sign needs a permit.
If your business is in a Chicago suburb, call the village or city building department early: many license electrical contractors themselves and may or may not accept a license from another town.
We build and ship; a local pro installs. Your sign is made, tested and shipped to your door from Washington or California with a wiring diagram and install pattern. A licensed sign installer or electrician in Illinois mounts and connects it. We don’t have an office or installation crew in Illinois.
Who can install it
Who Can Install a Lit Sign in Illinois
Illinois doesn’t issue a statewide electrician license. Electrical contractors and electricians are licensed by the city, village or county where the work happens, and requirements differ from town to town. Ask the local building department which license it requires and whether it accepts licenses from other municipalities.
Chicago licenses electrical contractors and supervising electricians through its Department of Buildings, under the Chicago Electrical Code. Work in the city needs Chicago credentials even if the contractor is based in the suburbs.
| Statewide license | None; licensing is local |
|---|---|
| Chicago | Department of Buildings licenses electrical contractors and supervising electricians |
| Suburbs | Each city or village sets its own rules |
Official sources
- Chicago Department of Buildings: Sign permits
- Village of Libertyville: Electrical licensing (example of local licensing)
Rules change. Always confirm with the office that issues your permit before you order.
Permits
Sign Permits in Illinois
Sign permits are issued by your city or village under its own sign ordinance. In unincorporated areas, the county handles them.
In Chicago, a sign permit from the Department of Buildings is generally required to place a sign on a building or business, and electric or neon signs require a permit in all circumstances. Signs larger than 100 square feet or higher than 24 feet above ground also need a City Council Order, and signs that hang over the public way need a separate Public Way Use Permit.
| Sign permit | City or village building department (county if unincorporated) |
|---|---|
| Chicago | Department of Buildings; always required for electric signs |
| Chicago large signs | City Council Order over 100 sq ft or 24 ft above grade |
| Chicago projecting signs | Public Way Use Permit |
New to sign permits? Read how sign permits work and what your electrician needs.
Official sources
Rules change. Always confirm with the office that issues your permit before you order.
Delivery
Shipping to Illinois
Standard shipping takes 3–6 business days in transit; 3-day, 2-day and overnight shipping are available at checkout. Every sign is made to order, and the estimated ship date for each shipping speed, including production, is shown at checkout. See shipping options and prices.
Planning for Illinois weather
Illinois winters bring hard freezes, wind and snow, and Chicago adds lake wind. Seal every wall penetration, plan anchoring for wind on exposed corners, and remember that short winter days make a lit sign do most of its work after 4:30pm for months.
Popular choices
Popular Signs for Illinois Storefronts
Type 3 – Standard Channel Letter Front & Back Lit
Dual lit letters that stand out on busy corridors.
Starting at $17 $15.30 Per Inch
Type 4 – Hidden Back/ Halo Lit
Halo letters for brick and boutique storefronts.
Starting at $30 $27 Per Inch
AV 6 – Adhesive Window Perf
Window graphics for hours, offers and branding.
Starting at $8.42 $6.90 per ft2
Questions
Illinois Storefront Sign FAQ
Is there a channel letter sign company near me in Illinois?
We ship custom channel letters anywhere in Illinois from Washington and California. We don’t install, so you’ll hire an electrical contractor licensed by your city or village to connect it.
Does Illinois license electricians statewide?
No. Electrician licensing in Illinois is local. Chicago and many suburbs license electrical contractors themselves, so check with your local building department.
Do I need a permit for a lit sign in Chicago?
Yes. Chicago’s Department of Buildings requires a permit for electric and neon signs in all circumstances, and large signs over 100 square feet or 24 feet high also need a City Council Order.
How long does shipping to Illinois take?
Standard shipping takes 3–6 business days in transit, with 3-day, 2-day and overnight options. Checkout shows the estimated date for each, including production.
Keep reading
Guides and Products
- Custom Channel LettersEvery lit style, priced online
- Channel Letter CostReal prices by style and height
- Sign BuilderDesign and price your sign
- Sign Permit HelpWhat the city and your electrician need
- Installation GuideRaceway vs. direct mount
- Banners & DisplaysGrand opening banners, flags, stands
Other state guides
Planning a Sign in Illinois?
Send your storefront photo, logo and your landlord’s sign criteria. We’ll suggest a size and style that fits Illinois rules and give you a price before you order.
- Mon–Fri, 8:00am–5:00pm PST
- Channel letters made in Washington & California · shipped to all 50 states