St Louis sign permit requirements

Permit required for any sign not otherwise described; applicant must submit photos and information for Building Commissioner review

“No person shall erect a sign not described herein above until a building permit for said sign has been issued by the Building Commissioner stating that said proposed sign complies with the rules and regulations described herein below relating to signs.”

Total on-premises signage (except freestanding) = sign frontage x multiplier based on distance from street centerline: <100 ft = 3x, 100-399 ft = 4x, 400+ ft = 5x; uses with <25 ft frontage may have max 50 sq ft (District F, Neighborhood Commercial)

“The total area in square feet of all on-premises signs on a sign frontage, except for free-standing signs, shall not exceed:”

Ground sign with two faces: each face max 100 sq ft; more than two faces: total of all faces max 200 sq ft (District F)

“If the ground sign has two (2) faces the area of each face shall not exceed one hundred (100) square feet; if a ground sign has more than two (2) faces the total of all faces shall not exceed two hundred (200) square feet.”

Ground signs shall not exceed 30 feet above grade (District F)

“Ground Signs. Shall not exceed thirty (30) feet above grade.”

Ground signs shall be set in at least 3 feet from every boundary line of the premises (District F)

“Ground Signs. Shall be set in at least three (3) feet from every boundary line of the premises.”

Only one side of a projecting sign counted; area included in gross area of all allowable signs except ground signs; sign must advertise a use occupying at least 18 feet of sign frontage

“The area of a projecting sign is included in the gross area of all allowable signs of the applicable zoning district except ground signs. Only one side of a projecting sign shall be counted in computing the total square feet of a sign.”

Projects no more than 5 feet from building; bottom at least 10 feet from grade; top no higher than 40 feet above grade or building height at building line, whichever is highest; no support above cornice line

“It projects no more than five (5) feet from the building;”

May be illuminated by concealed or exposed light source; shall not interfere with official traffic sign/signal/device; illumination shall not flash, blink, fade, scroll or fluctuate (District F)

“Permitted Illumination. Concealed or exposed light source. No sign shall be illuminated that it interferes with the effectiveness of an official traffic sign, signal or device. Illumination shall not flash, blink, fade, scroll or fluctuate.”

Electronic message center signs permitted in districts under Sec. 26.68.110; each message displayed minimum 5 minutes; not within 500 ft of dwelling/residential; only one allowed; EMC portion max 10 sq ft per side; letters/numerals max 10 in x 14 in; no more than two sides; no flash/blink/fade/scroll/fluctuate/animation

“Each message on the sign shall be displayed for a minimum of five (5) minutes.”

Any sign not specifically permitted is prohibited, including signs emitting odor, noise, amplified sound, radio frequencies or visible matter other than light; outdoor general advertising devices prohibited in all districts except as allowed; signs on vacant City/LRA buildings, traffic control devices, or utility poles prohibited

“Any sign not specifically permitted by this title shall be deemed prohibited. These prohibited signs include, but are not limited to the following:”

Code uses lettered zone districts (A-L). Values reported are for District F 'Neighborhood Commercial' (Sec. 26.68.090). Rules vary materially by district: Sec. 26.68.080 (districts A-E), 26.68.090 (F), 26.68.100 (G,H), 26.68.110 (I-L), 26.68.120 (parking). Higher-intensity commercial districts allow larger multipliers and heights.

“An applicant may apply for the establishment of a Signage Plan Overlay District for any property or project area zoned "F" Neighborhood Commercial District or higher”