# Sign Regulations in Ballwin, Missouri

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Ballwin, Missouri, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Ballwin, Missouri (MO)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/missouri/ballwin
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-03
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MO/Ballwin/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH22SI)

## At a glance

Ballwin, Missouri regulates 31 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Ground Sign (Non-Residential Use)s in the Residential districts (R-1A, R-1, R-2, R-2A, R-3, R-4, R-5, PSD, MXD, PA, CSD, NRD) zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 100 sq ft, with a Min. 6 ft from right-of-way; 10 ft from side property lines; see also intersection restrictions setback (Sec. Sec. 22-2(b)(10); Sec. 22-52). Most commercial signs in Ballwin require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential districts (R-1A, R-1, R-2, R-2A, R-3, R-4, R-5, PSD, MXD, PA, CSD, NRD) | 12 | 10 ft (ground); 10 ft (above lowest mounting point for non-ground) | 100 sq ft per entrance (may be two signs split up to 100 sq ft) | — |
| Commercial districts (C-1, C-2, C-3, S-1, MXD, MRD, NCD) | 15 | 25 ft | 400 sq ft (max 50% for center/building name) | — |
| C-1 | 2 | 20 ft max (top of sign/supports); min clearance 14 ft (vehicles), 10 ft (pedestrians) | 200 sq ft (including borders/trim/frames but not supports) | — |
| S-1 | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | 10 ft or as for wall/ground signs | 32 sq ft (all sides), unless oversized inflatable, then >32 sq ft allowed for 30 days per year | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Residential districts (R-1A, R-1, R-2, R-2A, R-3, R-4, R-5, PSD, MXD, PA, CSD, NRD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate and Construction Sign - Residential (under 1 acre) | — | 6 sq ft | — | Min. 10 ft from property line | Max 2 per lot/tract | On property being advertised | — | Sec. 22-2(b)(2); Sec. 22-58(a), (d) |
| Real Estate and Construction Sign - Residential (1 acre or more) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On property being advertised | — | Sec. 22-58(b), (d) |
| Real Estate Sign (Sale/Development, off-site) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Not on property being developed | — | Sec. 22-58(c) |
| Temporary Sign | 10 ft (ground); 10 ft (above lowest mounting point for non-ground) | 32 sq ft (all sides) | — | — | 1 per address, 2 at multi-tenant | Only at location on permit; not on right-of-way or public property | — | Sec. 22-2(b)(3); Sec. 22-60 |
| Subdivision Sign | — | 100 sq ft per entrance (may be two signs split up to 100 sq ft) | — | Not in right-of-way; see above for entrance location | Max 2 per entrance (total 100 sq ft) | At entrance to subdivision, on common ground or sign easement | — | Sec. 22-2(b)(4); Sec. 22-59; Sec. 22-44(11)a |
| Institutional or Governmental Sign | 10 ft above mean grade at base | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft from property line | — | On property of governmental agency or not-for-profit institutional property only | — | Sec. 22-2(b)(5); Sec. 22-55; Sec. 22-44(11)b |
| Directional/Informational Sign | 3 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | 4 | On parcel or development | — | Sec. 22-2(b)(7), (8); Sec. 22-50 |
| Ground Sign (Non-Residential Use) | 6 ft | 100 sq ft | — | Min. 6 ft from right-of-way; 10 ft from side property lines; see also intersection restrictions | 1, or more for large frontage (see 22-52(7)) | On lot where non-residential use is allowed | — | Sec. 22-2(b)(10); Sec. 22-52 |

### Commercial districts (C-1, C-2, C-3, S-1, MXD, MRD, NCD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Automobile Dealership or Mall Sign (Freestanding/Post or Ground) | 25 ft | 300 sq ft per sign | — | Min. 6 ft from right-of-way and structures | One per product line | — | — | Sec. 22-62(3)-(5),(7)-(9) |
| Directory Sign (<5,000 sq ft building/center) | As per ground sign restrictions | 200 sq ft (max 50% for center/building name) | — | — | 1 per building/parcel unless >500 ft frontage | Ground sign or post in front yard; must be at shopping center/office building; min 500 ft between directory signs | — | Sec. 22-2(c)(4); Sec. 22-51(3),(7) |
| Directory Sign (>=5,000 sq ft and <50,000 sq ft building/center) | Minimum height to bottom: 10 ft; Maximum height to top: 25 ft | 200 sq ft (max 50% for center/building name) | — | Min. 10 ft from side property line. Not beyond property line. | 1 per building/parcel unless >500 ft frontage | Ground sign or post in front yard; must be at shopping center/office building; min 500 ft between directory signs | — | Sec. 22-2(c)(4); Sec. 22-51(3),(5),(6) |
| Directory Sign (>=50,000 sq ft building/center) | Minimum height to bottom: 10 ft; Maximum height to top: 25 ft | 400 sq ft (max 50% for center/building name) | — | Min. 10 ft from side property line. Not beyond property line. | 1 per building/parcel unless >500 ft frontage | Ground sign or post in front yard; must be at shopping center/office building; min 500 ft between directory signs | — | Sec. 22-2(c)(4); Sec. 22-51(4)-(6) |
| Ground Sign (Commercial Use) | 6 ft | 100 sq ft | — | Min 6 ft from right-of-way; 10 ft from side property line; see intersection restrictions | 1 per lot, or per 300 ft frontage | On lot/premises | — | Sec. 22-2(c)(5); Sec. 22-52 |
| Wall Sign (Commercial Buildings, Option 1 - Standard) | — | 100 sq ft or 10% of front wall | — | — | 1 per front wall, or per street side if corner | On front wall of store/occupied unit | — | Sec. 22-2(c)(10); Sec. 22-61(1),(2),(5)-(10) |
| Wall Sign (Option 2 - Large Setback) | — | 300 sq ft | — | Front wall min 300 ft from right-of-way | 1 per wall | Building front wall, distant from ROW | — | Sec. 22-61(3) |
| Wall Sign (Option 3 - Large Building / Single Tenant) | — | 300 sq ft | — | — | 1 per wall | Single-tenant building front wall | — | Sec. 22-61(4) |

### C-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Billboard Sign | 20 ft max (top of sign/supports); min clearance 14 ft (vehicles), 10 ft (pedestrians) | 200 sq ft (including borders/trim/frames but not supports) | — | See additional requirements | — | Freestanding; only in C-1 | — | Sec. 22-64 |
| Dynamic Display Sign | — | — | — | See location and permit requirements for spacing | — | May be used as ground, wall, or directory sign within 150 ft of Manchester Rd. or Clayton Rd. ROW | — | Sec. 22-6(1),(3)-(10) |

## Prohibited signs in Ballwin

- No permit shall be issued for a sign, nor shall any sign be erected, installed, maintained or displayed in any zoning district of the city, except as illustrated in this section.
- It shall be unlawful for any person to erect or have erected a sign of any type defined in this chapter, or to collect or contract payment for any such sign placed or maintained within the city unless such sign is authorized by permit by the director.
- It shall be unlawful for any person to erect, install, have installed, maintain or display, on or in connection with any premises within the city, any sign, poster, letter, picture or advertising device in violation of any provisions of this chapter, or any type of sign not specifically allowed and detailed in this article.
- Any sign which by color, location, appearance, character or design resembles, conflicts or interferes with emergency vehicles or traffic control signs or devices is prohibited.
- It shall be unlawful for any person to maintain or permit to remain upon any premises owned, leased, occupied or used by him with notice thereof, any unsafe or insecure sign liable to injure any person or property, or to maintain or permit to remain on any such premises any sign which because of its deteriorated condition or appearance would have a negative effect upon other property in the city.
- No sign of any description shall be installed, erected, constructed or maintained in such a manner as to obstruct any fire escape.
- It shall be unlawful for any person to erect, install, maintain or display on or in connection with any premises owned, occupied or used by him any sign, which incorporates mechanical movements or contrivances of any kind, excepting clocks and dynamic display signs.
- No sign may be brighter than is necessary for clear and adequate visibility.
- No sign may be of such intensity or brilliance as to impair the vision of a motor vehicle driver with average eyesight or to otherwise interfere with the driver's operation of a motor vehicle.
- No sign may be of such intensity or brilliance that it interferes with the effectiveness of an official traffic sign, device or signal.
- Any sign which is no longer applicable to the property or building upon which such sign is located shall be considered an unlawful sign and shall be removed.
- It is prohibited to erect any type of sign not specifically allowed and detailed in this chapter.
- The following types of signs are prohibited: flashing signs; fluttering signs except certain flags; marquee signs; moving signs except as allowed; paper, cloth, cardboard or other similar nonpermanent material signs except as provided; post signs except as provided; sandwich-type board or A-frame signs except as allowed; projecting signs; advertising media; moveable signs except as allowed; illuminated or lighted signs in certain residential and service districts except as provided.
- No sign shall be located to obscure visibility or the line of sight for motor vehicles at intersecting streets, alleys, driveways or at curb cuts.

## Signs exempt from permit in Ballwin

- A dynamic display sign owned and operated by the City of Ballwin or other governmental agency for the purpose of warning motorists, providing notification of a dangerous condition, announcing non-commercial, City-sponsored and community events or otherwise operated in furtherance of the public safety and police power authority of the City of Ballwin shall be exempt from the standards contained in Chapter 22 with respect to dynamic display signs.
- Integral decorative or architectural features of building or works of art, so long as such features or works do not contain letters, numbers, trademarks, moving parts or lights, are excluded from regulation under this chapter.
- The permit fees required under section 22-24 herein shall be waived for public and private elementary, middle and high schools.
- Signs which advertise the sale or lease of real estate of less than one acre and which are located upon the property or premises to which such signs refer shall be otherwise exempt from the remaining provisions of this chapter except for size, location, and number limitations.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign of the types defined in section 1-2 shall be erected, nor the location of any existing sign changed, until a permit has been issued by the director.
- No existing sign shall be enlarged, rebuilt, structurally altered or relocated except in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and until a permit has been issued by the director.
- No permit shall be granted until after an application has been filed with the director showing the plans and specifications, including dimensions, materials and details of construction of the proposed sign structure, and a letter of approval from the owner of the shopping center or building if the applicant is a tenant thereof, nor until all the provisions of this chapter relating to such sign structure have been complied with.
- Temporary signs may be erected for up to 60 continuous display days per calendar year and a permit is required for each separate period a temporary sign is displayed.
- All construction signs, awning/canopy signs, wall signs, ground signs, and other signs must comply with restrictions and may require permits as regulated in this chapter.
- Registration is required for any sign, and each sign so registered shall receive a number recorded with the city.

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 3 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 5 zoning districts in Ballwin — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Ballwin+MO&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-ballwin

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