Lighting Regulations in Elk Grove Village, Illinois: Balancing Development and Community Character

Introduction: Elk Grove Village's Unique Context

Established in the mid-20th century, Elk Grove Village has developed a distinctive identity that balances industrial strength with natural beauty. Home to one of the largest business parks in North America—spanning 5.9 square miles and hosting nearly 3,600 businesses—the village has established lighting regulations that reflect its dual commitment to commercial vitality and community character.

The village's proximity to O'Hare International Airport, combined with its preservation of natural spaces like the Busse Woods forest preserve (complete with a small elk herd), has created a community that values practical lighting solutions while preventing excessive light pollution.

Quick Reference Guide: Key Lighting Requirements

Sign Illumination:

• Hours: Illuminated signs near residential districts must be turned off between 11:00 PM and 7:00 AM (extends to 1:00 AM for active businesses)
• Intensity Limits: Maximum 50 foot-candles when measured 4 feet from sign face
• Property Line Limits: Maximum 1 foot-candle at commercial property lines; 0.5 foot-candle at residential property lines
• Electronic Signs: Must dim to 40% of daytime brightness at night

Emergency Lighting:

• Strobes for fire safety equipment: Minimum 75 candela
• Required emergency illumination for egress paths in buildings with two or more exits

Height Restrictions:

• Standard height limit: 35 feet (per zoning ordinance)
• Special permits granted for taller structures (examples: 60-foot soccer field lighting, 50-foot pickleball court lighting)

Sign Illumination Regulations

Hours of Operation

Sign illumination in Elk Grove Village is carefully regulated to balance visibility with neighborhood considerations. Signs adjacent to residential districts must be turned off between 11:00 PM and 7:00 AM, with a later cutoff (1:00 AM) permitted for businesses actively operating during those hours.

Illumination Methods and Restrictions

The village specifically addresses how signs may be illuminated:

• Permitted: Gooseneck reflectors and external lighting directed at sign faces
• Required: Shielding to prevent direct light or glare onto roadways or adjacent properties
• Prohibited: Flashing signs, exposed neon tubing, reflective materials that direct light toward roadways

Electronic Signs

Electronic message signs face additional regulations:

• Must include automatic dimming capabilities through both programming and photocell sensors
• Must operate at no more than 40% of daytime brightness at night or in overcast conditions
• Message transitions must be instantaneous with no movement effects
• Messages cannot change more frequently than once every 10 seconds
• Must be extinguished between 11:00 PM and 6:00 AM (7:00 AM if adjacent to residential areas)

Light Intensity Limitations

The village has established specific measurements for sign brightness:

• Maximum at sign: 50 foot-candles when measured with a light meter held 4 feet from the sign face
• Maximum at property lines: 1 foot-candle at commercial property lines; 0.5 foot-candle at residential property lines

Emergency and Safety Lighting

Exit Signs and Egress Lighting

Elk Grove Village has strict requirements for illumination that aids in emergency evacuation:

• Exit access corridors, passageways, and aisles require emergency lighting in buildings with two or more exits
• Conference rooms, training rooms, break rooms, and multi-occupant restrooms require emergency lighting
• These systems must activate automatically during power failures

Low-Level Exit Signs

To address visibility during smoke conditions, the village requires:

• Floor proximity exit signs in assembly places, hotels, and other buildings with transient occupancy
• Signs must be placed 10-18 inches above floor level
• For exit doors, signs must be mounted within 4 inches of door frames
• Approved types include luminescent, photo luminescent, or self-illuminated varieties

Fire Safety Equipment Lighting

Visual indicators for fire safety equipment have specific requirements:

• Outside weatherproof strobes must be installed over Knox boxes
• All outside strobes must be minimum 75 candela
• Multi-tenant buildings require strobes over the entrance to each tenant space

Street Lighting Standards

Design and Installation Requirements

Street lighting in Elk Grove Village follows a detailed specification system based on street classification:

Major Streets:

• Minimum mounting height: 26 feet
• Minimum lamp size: 400 Watt (20,500 lumens)

Collector Streets:

• Minimum mounting height: 25 feet
• Minimum lamp size: 175 Watt (7,800 lumens)

Minor Streets:

• Minimum mounting height: 15 feet
• Minimum lamp size: 100 Watt (4,000 lumens)

Light Fixture Specifications

The village requires:

• Mercury vapor type luminaries with integral regulator ballast and twist lock receptacle
• Medium vertical distribution with semi-cutoff control
• I.E.S. Type II or III lateral distribution with phosphor-coated mercury lamp
• Die-cast aluminum construction with specular reflector and glass prismatic refractor

Placement Guidelines

Street light placement follows these rules:

• At least one light at each intersection, street curve, cul-de-sac, and mid-block
• Maximum 500 feet between luminaries
• Minimum 2'6" setback from back of curbs
• Alternating placement on both sides of street

Special Use Cases and Variations

The village has granted height variations for specific lighting applications:

• Marshall Park soccer field: Four 60-foot lighting structures (with limitation that lighting not extend beyond 9:00 PM)
• Pickleball courts: Four 50-foot light structures
• Electrical substation: Lighting structures up to 86 feet tall

These special use permits demonstrate the village's case-by-case approach to lighting needs that exceed standard height restrictions.

Electrical Requirements for Lighting

Conduit and Cable Limitations

The village imposes specific restrictions on certain types of electrical conduit for lighting:

• Type AC cable, FMC flexible metal conduit, LFMC liquidtight flexible metal conduit, LFNC liquidtight flexible non-metallic conduit, and FMT flexible metallic tubing are only permitted:
• In lengths not exceeding 6 feet in accessible spaces
• In lengths not exceeding 12 feet in concealed spaces
• When used to supply light fixtures or electrical equipment
• Pendant hung flexible cable and cord is generally prohibited except with written permission from the Director of Community Development

Supporting Elk Grove Village's Lighting Vision

Bock Lighting, a Northeast Ohio manufacturer with roots dating back to 1918, shares Elk Grove Village's commitment to balancing industrial needs with community character. With our understanding of how lighting regulations support both economic development and natural preservation, we appreciate the village's thoughtful approach.

As a regional manufacturer, Bock Lighting understands the unique lighting needs of communities like Elk Grove Village that must accommodate both major industrial areas and residential neighborhoods. Our focus on helping communities interpret and implement lighting regulations aligns with Elk Grove Village's careful attention to detail in areas like sign illumination and street lighting.

Bock's expertise in lighting solutions that respect community character while meeting modern safety and efficiency standards makes us a valuable resource for property owners navigating complex requirements. Our commitment to sustainable lighting practices complements Elk Grove Village's efforts to maintain its natural spaces while supporting its substantial business community.

Conclusion

Elk Grove Village's lighting regulations reflect its unique position as both a major economic hub and a community that values natural preservation. The detailed specifications for everything from sign illumination to street lighting demonstrate a thoughtful approach to balancing commercial needs, safety requirements, and residential quality of life.

Property owners and businesses should pay particular attention to the specific technical requirements like illumination levels and operational hours, as well as the village's case-by-case approach to special lighting needs through the variation process.

By understanding and following these regulations, community members can contribute to Elk Grove Village's continued success as a place where industrial strength and natural beauty coexist harmoniously.