Service Request Explore Elmhurst

Electronic Sign

The City of Elmhurst owns and operates the electronic sign located on the Robert Palmer Drive Underpass. The City utilizes the sign to provide pertinent news, announcements, and information to the public. In an emergency, all messages will be suspended and only emergency information will be displayed. The electronic sign allows the City to display multiple messages throughout the day.

The following guidelines outline electronic sign usage:

Eligibility: The following entities are eligible to submit requests for electronic sign messages.

Priority for messaging is in the following order:

  1. City of Elmhurst messaging including emergency messages. City of Elmhurst messaging of any type will always maintain top priority. In the event of an emergency, all planned messaging will cease and the emergency message will stay active until there is no longer a need for the message.
  2. Events sponsored by other units of local government including public school districts, with jurisdictional boundaries, which overlap the corporate limits of the City.
  3. Elmhurst not-for-profit organizations that are sponsoring an event within the City of Elmhurst that is open to the public, whose primary purpose is not-for-profit and not for commercial gain. No private business messages can be displayed on the electronic sign and no outside advertising will be permitted. A not-for-profit organization is defined as an Illinois or IRS/Internal Revenue Services registered not-for-profit organization, with a tax exemption number, either based in the City of Elmhurst or whose service area consists principally in the City of Elmhurst.

Regulations for Operation of Electronic Sign:
The electronic sign will operate from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., 7 days a week, and comply with the following regulations:
  • Electronic format in conformance with City standards
  • Messages will be displayed for a period of no less than 15 seconds at a time
  • Messages will change instantaneously and will not fade out or dissolve
  • Emergency messages may be shown 24 hours a day
  • There is a limit to 2 messages per quarter from each organization.
  • There will be no more than 4 non-City messages on each sign during one week.
  • Message board requests from not-for-profits are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to the eligibility and priority standards set forth above in this policy. The City reserves the right to display or deny messages.
  • Availability for the following calendar year will become available at 8:30 a.m. on the first Monday in January of the current calendar year. Requests can be made in the Citizen Self-Service Portal.
  • There is a $35 fee for each message per screen for one week. Fees are paid online via the Citizen Self-Service Portal. Invoices will be sent via email and through the Citizen Self-Service Portal after staff review and approve your request and must be paid at least 1 week prior to the start of your selected date.
  • No refunds will be issued.
Content for Event Messages
  • High-resolution JPEG files should be attached to your Electronic Sign Application in your Citizen Self-Service Portal account or sent to banners@elmhurst.org at least 1 week prior to your selected date.
  • The City will not design any organization’s banner artwork. Art submitted must be complete.
  • The City will evaluate the file and request adjustments if necessary based on sign spec requirements.
  • Messages will be displayed in full standard color and will not feature any additional effects such as but not limited to blinking or flashing. 
  • Content should be limited to:
    • Group/Event Name
    • Date, Time & Place
    • Website or Phone
    • Bold text, 3 lines max
  • Content will NOT include:
    • White or light background 
    • Video 
    • Script font 
    • Imagery
Artwork Spec requirements:
  • Artwork should be sized at 1248 pixels wide x 208 pixels high.
  • ** WHITE BACKGROUND WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED**
Frequency:
  • Each entity or organization may request 2 messages to be displayed per quarter year. (Jan. 1 – March 31, April 1 – June 30, July 1 – Sep. 30, Oct. 1 – Dec. 31.)
  • Units of Local Government may exceed the above limitations, with City approval.
  • Week begins on Monday and ends on Sunday. The City maintains the authority to edit all messages. No message will be displayed that includes comments that may be deemed inappropriate. The City will contact the message requester to notify them of their message request status.
To Submit a Banner Request please use the Citizen Self-Service Portal.

CSSP GRAPHICOnline Licensing: Citizen Self-Service Portal
The City's online Citizen Self-Service Portal allows users to apply for an electronic sign, submit artwork, pay fees and communicate with staff. Anyone submitting an application in the City of Elmhurst will be required  to utilize the Citizen Self-Service Portal. 

Sign up or access the Citizen Self-Service Portal here. 

Instructions on how to create a Citizen Self-Service account.
View step-by-step directions on how to Apply online here.

If you have any questions, please contact the City Clerk's office at (630) 530-3010.